'Of mice and men'. Write a detailed character analysis in prose about Curley's wife, using evidence from the text to support your study.

Curley unknowingly reveals his insecurity even more during his interaction with George and Lennie. "Curley stepped gingerly close" to Lennie, due to his defensive and uncertain body language, showing his remorseless character. However the reader can infer that Curley's motive behind the quarrel is to prove his high status and fighter mentality. However the word "gingerly" indicates caution and also a touch of inconfidence in Curley. Furthermore, he chose Lennie rather than George for a fight to prove that he isn't intimidated by size and also to induce fear into the pair. However, George sees through Curley's act and isn't intimated which is shown when he replies "coldly". This shows the reader that Curley's hostility only frightens the weak minded and concretises the fact that his personality is only a charade.

Similarly to George, Candy also reveals a lot about Curley's character. We learn that Curley's source of violence, germinates from the ring when Candy states "He's a lightweight". This gives us the impression that Curley is trying to emulate the power he has on the ring in front of George and Lennie. Also, during Candy's conversation with George, we learn of Curley's nervous and stressed mindset when it is said that "Curley's pants is full of ants". This supports the fact that Curley isn't all he makes himself out to be and also that he has other worries on his mind such as his wife. Due to the fact his wife is flirting with other men on the ranch, we can infer that Curley isn't a good husband and not much of a family man, which builds up an even greater negative image about him.

Curley relates well to the novel's theme of casual violence seeing as it is he who is behind most of the fight-related incidents. This is indicated by his Curley's involvement in boxing, and also by the fact that he probably instigated the violence during the fight between Crooks and Smitty. This also ties Curley into the theme of foreboding as we anticipate that eventually there will be a fight between Lennie and Curley with disastrous consequences. Lastly, Curley is also connected to the theme of loneliness which is shown by his lack of affection from his wife, proving how he feels unwanted and unloved. This loneliness symbolises how his morally and personally stunted and demonstrates how he needs to act tough in order to disguise this.

On the other hand, Curley does have some dominance over his wife seeing as she is referred to as "Curley's wife" illustrating the power men had over women at the time. Furthermore Curley expects his wife to be at home at all times tending to the cooking and cleaning while he is out on the ranch. This exemplifies the typical patriarchal values invested in men at the time. Curley's character also shows the audience the flaws in the American Dream; Curley is married and is the heir to a ranch, but yet he is still worried and unhappy shown by his self protective nature, giving the reader a valuable insight into the failings of individuals during the depression of the 1930s in American.

Dilan Pathmajothy 11S