Of Mice and Men- Chapter 5 Prompt

Ryan Ward said... In the novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck demonstrates through the characterization of Curley’s Wife that one should not judge her unless they know what she has been though her entire life. “You wasn’t no good. You ain’t good now, you lousy tart.” This was stated by Candy after realizing that because Lennie killed Curley’s Wife, the dream was no longer a reality. This was only one of the terrible things said about Curley’s wife, but she did not deserve to be treated like this. Curley’s wife has been through depression at a young age, mainly when she was denied a potential career in acting. Curley’s wife has truly never had anything to look forward to in her life, and she has never had anyone that has completely been there for her. This quote expresses the disrespect that almost all of the men have had toward her, and most of them do not even want to be around her. She exclaimed to Lennie, “Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.” This proves that Curley’s wife’s flirty attitude is one of the only ways that she can converse with others and get their attention. She wants to be around other’s and be loved, however, even her own husband doesn’t reveal this to her. She has been tied to the ranch because she married Curley, and she has almost no friends. She is truly one of the loneliest people living on the ranch. She doesn’t deserve to be called a tramp simply because when she flirts with other men, she is just trying to get them to notice her. She is not purposefully trying to inflict any harm, she just wants someone to talk to and be around. This is why she even conversed with Lennie and she also opened up to him about her childhood. She did not deserve to be killed because even though she may have given the impression that she is a tramp, Curley’s wife only wanted someone to a notice and care about her. Curley’s wife definitely did not deserve what had happened to her because one cannot judge her unless they know what she has been through her entire life.