Another character that sees Curley’s wife as a tart is Slim. Slim knows that Curley’s wife is out to get attention from the men yet his response to her is “Hi, Good-lookin’.” His politeness and friendliness tells us the reasons why the people on the ranch see him as a figure of authority. When Curley’s wife asks Slim where Curley is, Slim knows that she is not really looking for Curley, as she already knows that he is at home. He also knows that she has not looked very hard and that she had come into the bunkhouse for another reason. The way “she smiled archly and twitched her body’ is seen by other characters as being flirtatious and because of this she cannot keep away from them.
George is very conscious and aware of the danger that lies in her behaviour. This is because George knows that she is going to cause problems for them, learning from experiences when they were in Weed. He thinks that “she’s gonna make a mess” and “she’s all jail-bait all set on the trigger.” He is concerned and well aware that if he has any sort of relationship with her, Curley will explode. He also thinks that Curley suppresses her and soon she will explode. George sees her as a women “who seems like she can’t keep away from guys” and always dresses to impress others. He thinks that she always tries using her charms on the men on the ranch.
It is understandable that some of the men may see Curley’s wife in this way because she uses excuses to be with them alone for example, when she is looking for Curley. Candy refers to her as a tart. He calls her a “god-damn tramp,” and a “lousy tart.” He does not want any trouble. Crooks also feels the same way about her. As they are both outcasts and lonely she believes, they are an easy target to pick on. She says to them, “They left all the weak ones here.” An example where she picks on Candy is when they are in Crooks room. Candy tells her, “we’d tell about you framing Crooks.” However, her reply to this quote is that no one will listen to them because of their position. They are outcasts and she could manipulate the other workers and Curley into believing her. She also attacks Crooks when he tells her that if she doesn’t disappear from the barn then he’ll make sure she is not allowed in there again. “ You know what I can do if you open your trap?” Crooks withdraws his confidence because he does not want to get hurt by Curley.
The characters are scared to have a relationship with her because she always talks and acts in a sexual manner and they are scared that if they are seen with her they will be in a lot of trouble.
She comes across as a tart and the way she dresses is seen to be as a typical stereotype for a prostitute. It also symbolises as danger and passion. They also see her in a negative way because of her flirtatious nature. She tries to seek their attention because Curley does not give her any. The workers feel that the ranch is a place for men and not females. “ Ranch with a bunch of guys on it ain’t no place for a girl, specially like her.” The ways in which she addresses the characters is of an enticing temperament.” rubbing the nails of one hand with the thumb andforefinger of the other.” Her behaviour is also seen as threatening and alluring to some workers.
The readers might see her as a tart to begin with because of the way Steinbeck introduces her. When she first appears the author uses short sentences, which make her features stand out. Her behaviour and attitude is also a major influence to how see is seen as. She wears “her fingernails red” and “she has a little bouquet of ostrich feathers in the insteps of her mules. There are many signs of her flirtatious nature such as, “thrusting her body forward” in the doorway when George and Lennie are introduced. Her “full rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made” shows that she is always seeking attention, and is very flirtatious. The way she dresses is a sign of passion. This could be an omen that she is dangerous. The colour red also refers to prostitution.” she wore a red house cotton dress.” She talks to Lennie and George when she does not know them. “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” She tries to interact with George and Lennie however George tries to avoid her. “Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality.” She sounds masculine. This is the opposite of her feminine appearance. This could also be a sign that she is suffering in some way and is anxious.
As the novel develops we begin to understand why she behaves in a enthralling manner we begin to adapt our view of her. Our views change as we begin to see what she is like inside. If she had more trust and confidence in her mother then maybe she would have been a different person. She “coulda been in the movies, an’ had nice clothes-all of them nice clothes to wear” and she “coulda sat in them big hotels, an’ had pitchers’ taken” of herself. However, her dream could not have been achieved because the man who promised her this never wrote back to her. She wants to overcome her loneliness by being in the movies and to have some friends to and female companionship.
Curley’s wife is lonely because of her actions. Her actions and behaviour have resulted to her being lonely and desperate for affection and companionship. She has a different image to what the men perceive her as. She wants recognition by others to show them that she is not a tart and that she can be a friendly person.
As Curley’s wife appears into Crooks room using Curley as an excuse for a conversation, Steinbeck brings out her true feelings.
“Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time?”
Curley’s wife is fed of being treated as Curley’s possession and being treated as if she is under his commands. Curley’s wife acts like a tart because her husband does not love her and he stops her from communicating with other characters.
Curley’s wife admits that she does not love her husband. She is full of raging anger and frustration making her beset with feelings and emotions. From this you can see that their marriage is a complete pretence and there is no trust between them.
“’Sure I’ve gotta husban’. You all seen him. Swell guy, ain’t he? Spends all his time sayin’ what he’s gonna do to guys he don’t like, he don’t like nobody?”
She strikes back to the men in Crook’s room as she is full of anger and wants to show them how she really feels inside. She is upset that even though she has tried so hard to get along with them yet they do not take any notice of her and observe. Her manner has different effects on the men; Lennie watches her fascinated, crooks retires into the “terrible protective dignity of the Negro,” and Candy gains the confidence to attack her and tell her what he feels about her. She destroys the growing confidence in the men and retaliates because they are an easy target.
She shows her vulnerable side and kindness by trying to tell Lennie how she feels. Curley’s wife tells Lennie her secret because she knew that Lennie would not say anything and will just listen to what she has to say. This is because of his mental state. Curley’s wife moves closer to Lennie because she is able to have a conversation with him. She trusts him and is desperate with loneliness. Lennie becomes her companion, some who she can talk to especially when she has been searching for someone to have a discussion with and to pour her emotions out.
Curley’s wife wants someone to confide in and wants comfort and companionship from others without hatred and with trust. When her mother bought her up, she was hurt repeatedly because of the lack of trust. She knows that Lennie will not say anything but will listen to her and to what she has to say; this is what she really needs. She relies on other people rather than being independent because in her life nobody has loved her that much. She is an insecure human being who finds it hard to communicate.
Curley’s wife is lonely because of the actions of her husband as he treats her like a possession rather than a normal human being and is not allowed to communicate with others. There is no love or trust between the two of them. None of the others realise that the only thing she wants is love and friends. She is forlorn as there are no women on the ranch and the men are terrified to even be near her because of Curley.
We feel repentant for Curley’s wife when she talks to Lennie in the barn.” Well I ain’t told this to nobody before” suggests that she is insecure and scared to communicate. She moves closer to him because she is able to confide in him, as she is able to trust him. He becomes her companion someone who she can talk to especially when she has been searching for this for a long time. She tells Lennie that she is desperately lonely and that she “can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad.” Curley is always in temper and always looks for his wife.
She suggests that Lennie might like to touch her hair because he likes the feel of soft things. This shows that both Lennie and Curley interact very well with each other. “ Course I brush it a lot. That makes it fine.” Lennie now becomes fascinated by the feel of her hair and kills her in panic.
Steinbeck describes her death innocently. “Lay with a half covering of yellow hay. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. This describes her as being innocent and only wanting companionship. He tries to bring her sweetness to life. This has the effect of Curley’s wife being restored to her natural state of innocence. Her death is described in an idyllic setting and she is described as if she is at peace. “ Now her rouged cheeks and reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly.” She seems pure and like a sweet child when her features are described as, “ The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. This makes readers understand her character and it reveals her inner personality.
In conclusion, I think she comes across to others as a tart because she is lonely and isolated from others. She only wants companionship and trust, which Lennie achieves to give her. She wants to be like everybody else, normal, free, and care for. She only tries to seeks attention in a sexual manner because of the way she is treated by Curley.Steinbeck’s letter to the actress is a useful document to help us understand her true character. It is a good reference as it explains her childhood and how she was bought up. She is described as an innocent girl who is corrupted. The author describes her coming from an uneasy background and her being mistreated. “ A natural trustfulness broke through constantly and every time it did, she got hurt.
“Now, she was trained by threat not only at home but by other kids. And any show of fear or weakness brought an instant persecution.” She was learning to stand up to herself and became hardest when she was most frightened. Steinbeck describes her sexual life as her having none except with Curley. He described her as being a “little starved” and she had no feminine companionship. This is why when she was frightened she would become malicious and outspoken for. Inside she was a nice and kind girl. She was described as respectful and faithful, if she was treated right. The author tried to tell readers that you need to put trust in people and at the same time, you should be independent. You should talk about your feelings rather than keeping them in. Opening up may help you to feel more comfortable and happier and there is no need to isolate yourself from others because everyone yearns for companionship.
