Her actions imitate that of a Hollywood actress, as she has spent her entire life striving to get into the business, and failed. However, her interest is reflected around her emphasis of movement and expression:
“…leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward” indicating that she is constantly using her bodily expressions to attract attention from members of the opposite sex, due to her desire for awareness and recognition, neither of which she receives from her husband.
Due to the fact that Curley takes authority over the majority of issues concerning the ranch, the other men feel intimidated by this, and use it as an excuse to keep distance from his wife. Therefore, Curley obtains much aggravation and annoyance when she continues to flirt with his co-workers. This gives some indication towards the fact that the relationship between Curley and his wife is far from perfect, and why she feels the need to flaunt herself in such a way. Another aspect of this is in the sense that Curley only finds interest in his wife with that of a sexual nature, and advertises that he wears a glove full of Vaseline, with the intention of keeping it “soft for his wife” therefore illustrating further, the lack of respect he has for her.
On the contrary, Gertrude creates the impression of being extremely shy and modest with issues concerning her appearance, despite the fact that she is seen as a “rosy-cheeked tisty-tosty” she chooses not to use this to her own advantage, whereas Curley’s wife does exactly that. This understanding can be established during the very first meeting of Gertrude, whilst in church, and the curiosity of Farmer Lodge’s new wife has proved rather exciting to the remaining individuals of Holmstoke, whom have not yet seen her. Her entrance being that of the “shyness natural to a modest woman” is undertaken whilst accompanying her husband along the aisle, and with all gazes fixed upon her. However, she still seems aware of her beauty, and finds herself in disbelief when faced with the reality that someone could dislike her in any way.
Mrs Lodge is perceived to be a very caring and considerate young woman, especially when faced with individuals less fortunate than herself, therefore finds it hard to refuse any assistance in which she might give to such a person. This can be seen during her first meeting with Rhoda’s son, as she immediately notices the poor quality of his boots, and offers to replace them with a more suitable pair, therefore illustrating her kindness and generosity in the sense that she would rather spend her riches on under-privileged members of her society, than on herself.
The relationship in which she shares with her husband proves, in some ways to be reasonably similar to that of Curley and his wife, as Farmer Lodge also takes much pride in the appearance and manner of his young wife. However, he tends not to use such crude methods when advertising certain aspects of their relationship, and finds it unnecessary to discuss issues of a more sexual nature in public.
Curley’s wife’s dream of becoming an actress, started at a reasonably young age, and despite her mother’s disapproval on the matter, she has continued into adulthood with the hope of still escaping from everything that is known to her, and making something more of herself. We first learn of this dream, during her discussion with Lennie, when she admits to having met a young man, involved in film production, who promised to get her a job in his line of business. But, after guaranteeing to send her a letter in further discussion to acting, he failed to do so, leaving her with no option other than to marry Curley, and start a new life. The fact that Curley’s wife believed what the young actor had promised, proves further her naivety in this situation, as he was most likely using it simply as a way of getting what he wanted from her, and therefore had no intention of following through what he had claimed.
Quite the opposite is Gertrude Lodge’s situation, in the sense that her expectations in life are a considerable amount more realistic, so instead of hoping for things such as fame and fortune, she opts for romance, and stability within a safe environment. This indicates the difference in maturity between them, whereas Gertrude tends to have a more pragmatic view to life and her expectations, Curley’s wife is much less realistic, whilst positive in her views.
This is most probably due to the type of lifestyle they endure, whilst Gertrude feels a sense of pride towards the life that she leads, Curley’s wife is extremely unhappy and lonely within her community, and therefore feels the constant need to reassure herself with optimism.
However, this all changes, following the deterioration of Gertrude’s arm, she becomes a lot more aware of her appearance and obsesses over ways in which she could cure herself of such a burden, not only for her sake, but also for her husbands, as it seems his feelings have also altered as a result of her disfigurement.
The scene in which Curley’s wife dies is very much brought on by her own vanity, as she holds a conversation with Lennie in the barn, she turns the attention to her hair, and invites Lennie to stroke it, after learning of his passion for soft things. She later realises that this was a mistake, in the sense that Lennie grips firmly on her hair, and refuses to release his hold, leaving her with no option other than to shout for help, in the hope that someone will hear, and come to her rescue. As the scene continues, Lennie’s grip tightens, until eventually Curley’s wife “flops like a fish” and dies. This violent death, leaves Curley’s wife peacefully settled, as she is released from the pain that was her life, “the meanness and plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face” indicating that in death she finds a sense of freedom, and is relieved from her former self, leaving her with nothing but beauty and contentment.
In her desperate efforts to cure her arm, Gertrude is informed that she has no option other than to place her disfigurement upon the neck of a man who’s just been hanged, in the hope that her blood will turn, returning her arm to it’s previous state. However, in her attempt to do so, she realises that the neck of which she is about to place her arm is that of Farmer Lodge and Rhoda’s son, which sends her into a state of severe shock, “her blood had ‘turned’ indeed- too far” indicating that her death had been a result not only astonishment, but also of the blood turning too much.
Evidently, Gertrude’s death is somewhat similar to that of Curley’s wife, as she too is killed as a result of her vanity, however the circumstances prove to be relatively different. The fact that Gertrude had become overly fixated concerning her scar, indicates how she developed from being a thoughtful caring woman, into a self-centered one, whom cares for nothing more than restoring her beauty back to it’s original state. So increasing her likeness towards Curley’s wife.
With both stories sharing an equally violent ending, it not only brings further similarity to the two stories, but it contributes to the degree of sympathy felt for the characters. Furthermore, it signifies the way in which both characters would have suffered a great deal more if they were to stay alive, for Gertrude would have had to face a life filled with loneliness and guilt, considering her act of selfishness upon both Farmer Lodge’s son, and his parents. Whereas, Curley’s wife would have continued to be miserable, and dreaming of being an actress, when the reality is that she would by no means achieve this.
The ways, in which the writers’s present and develop these two characters, illustrates how they want them to be perceived. For example, Hardy starts by emphasising the fact that Gertrude takes pleasure in helping individuals less fortunate than herself, but leads on to show her develop more obsessive and vain characteristics, therefore creating the impression that the reader should take a disliking towards her behaviour and manner. Whereas, Steinbeck introduces Curley’s wife as being a selfish individual, and continues to signify this throughout the novel.
However, both writer’s use similar methods when bringing the character’s lives to an end, although their deaths are brought on by their own doing, the author’s use methods such as calm, soft language “pretty”, “sweet” as a way of creating a sense of sympathy for the character.
In my response to the characters, I feel that both Curley’s wife and Gertrude Lodge are very similar characters, in the sense that they are both victims of prejudice within their separate communities, which consequently leads to them acting the way they do. In Curley’s wife’s case, it is her continuous need for attention and the fact that she never receives any, that makes her feel she has something to live up to. Whilst, Gertrude has never been faced with such a problem before, and finds it particularly hard when dealing with her disfigurement, to the extent that she tries every option possible so as to not let it take over her life. This can also be seen when she tries to cover her arm, in the hope that no-one will notice.
And although a sense of sympathy was felt for both character’s in their departure, I felt this more when reading “Of Mice And Men” as it was Curley’s wife’s sheer vanity that inevitably caused her death.
