‘Of Mice and Men’ Essay
Essay topic: Does Steinbeck Condemn or Condone Curley’s wife?
In ‘Of Mice and Men’, the writer Steinbeck both condemns and condones Curley’s wife in different ways. Steinbeck does this by giving the readers the description of Curley’s wife’s appearance, actions, her dialogue to others and what others characters say about her.
Steinbeck condemns Curley’s wife in many ways. Firstly, the writer condemns her by giving the reader a view of her through the men’s eyes which is just a “tart”. One example of this when George and Lennie first arrive at the ranch, Candy warns them about Curley’s wife by saying “she got the eye.” And when Lennie kills her, Candy helplessly looks at Curley’s wife‘s body in sorrow and anger and says “You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” But if any sympathy was felt for Curley’s wife is reduces because of her cruelty whilst talking to the men and by the way she treated Crooks. She refers Candy, Crooks and Lennie to “a nigger”, “a dum-dum” and “a lousy ol’ sheep” and also she laughs at them of their dream of having a ranch. But she goes further she removes Crooks’ pride and dignity by calling him a “nigger” and says “You know what I could do.” Here, anyone would feel threaten and powerless by it. Steinbeck goes further when he starts the novel by not even giving Curley’s wife a name.