Women
English Lit: Edexcel IGCSE Of Mice & Men, topic 4.1.5
Women
Sexism shaped relations in American society. Steinbeck demonstrates this in Of Mice and Men.
Sexist attitudes to women
- Before Curley’s wife is introduced in person, Steinbeck includes a conversation between the ranch workers where various derogatory things are said about her, for example, Candy calls her a “tart” (Candy, Section 2).
- The fact that these things are said about Curley’s wife behind her back, before the reader has been properly introduced to her, might evoke some sympathy for Curley’s wife as the only woman surrounded by all of these sexist men.
Brothels
- The general attitude that the men have towards women is also seen through their tendency to spend their money in brothels, or “Old Susy’s place” (Whit, Section 3).
Curley's wife's femininity
- Curley’s wife is presented as being glamorous and “heavily made up” (Section 2). She is meant to stand out in the predominantly male surroundings.
- You could say that Curley's wife embodies the traditional model of feminine beauty.
Curley's wife flirtatiousness
- Curley’s wife has a flirtatious manner when around the ranch workers: “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” (Section 2).
Test yourself on Women
What derogatory word do the men on the ranch use to describe Curley's Wife?