Steinbecks Of Mice and Men examines the ways in which many throughout the novel experience the harsh

circumstances of the economic downturn that hit America hard in the early twentieth century. Steinbeck notes the importance of identity and companionship which are central themes in this novel that are conveyed through the character of Curleys wife. Despite Steinbecks insight, Curleys wife emerges as a rather complex and interesting character. Although her purpose is rather simple in the opening pages - she is the tramp and tart, that threatens to destroy male stability her appearances later in the novel is more complex. She epitomises the poignant image of being lost in society, while in Crooks room she admits feeling some dissatisfaction with her life with her loneliness and failed dream evident. Her vulnerability at this moment makes her utterly human and much more significant than the stereotypical made up girl in fancy red shoes. From the beginning of the novel Curleys wife is seen as inferior, George has assumptions about her given to him by Candy, Curleys marrieda tart this image of her is key to her presentation to the reader. The men have a stereotypical view of women, as soon as they set eyes on Curleys wife they see her rouged lips and heavily made up face indicative of a tart. Steinbeck conveys how the social setting has made George stereotype her as a tramp with limited prior knowledge; Steinbecks personal anecdotal evidence of this attitude is clear from his experience of the great depression in America. He creates this microcosm that is symbolic of how many lost their livelihoods relates with Curleys wife who has lost her way in society; this highlights the lack of respect which Curleys wife has and the lack of respect women had during that period. Steinbecks decision to create this image of her as a tart suggests her insignificance to society and insignificance to everyone else on the ranch. This is emphasised by the author giving her no name and only referring to her only as Curleys wife as if she is totally owned by Curley and without her own liberty. Steinbeck notes she was suddenly apprehensive when Slim mentioned Curley was at home, her nervousness when this is mentioned suggests Curley is very controlling and shows the lack of respect, importance and identity she has; she will always be seen as part of Curley and never as herself. Curleys wife is a misfit as no one really relates to her and her image as a tart only emphasises how ostracised she is from everyone else, her loneliness is a key aspect of her character as well as a core theme that runs throughout the novel. Central to Steinbecks novel is the theme of loneliness; this is conveyed from the outset where the town nearest to the ranch is named Soledad, literally solitude in Spanish. This integral part of the novel is effectively epitomised by Curleys wife whose state of being isolated is awful lonely, she emphasises this by remarking, Aint I got a right to talk Indeed everyone on the ranch feels some sort of loneliness but Steinbeck suggests how her ostracism is more severe due to her gender in the highly prejudiced society in which the novel is set, ranch aint no place for a girl. Yet Steinbeck also shows how her position contributes to her loneliness, she is stuck in a loveless marriage with Curley where he demands loyalty resulting in her interaction with the other men being limited at best. Her position as the boss daughter in law also restrains her interaction. Instead of holding a high status on the ranch with her relation to the boss, she is right at the bottom of the hierarchy ladder, this is ultimately down to her being viewed as a tart by the ranch members. Curleys wife is almost always seen flaunting herself to the men by giving them the eye, her flirtatious attitude coupled with her loveless marriage with Curley results in her attitude being misinterpreted by the men who only see her as a tart. Steinbecks presentation of her loneliness in the novel reveals her actual demeanour by implicitly telling us that Curleys wife is just searching for the love and companionship she is longing for.

Dreams are highly important in the novel and like many characters Curleys wife has a dream which she tries to pursue. Her dream is made somewhat harder due to her gender in the male dominated society at that period; we find she is often depicted by Steinbeck in a sexual and provocative fashion where there is more than a hint of sexism. Georges first meeting with Curleys wife emphasises the prejudice set against her as he remarks that she is jailbaitset on the trigger. Here George believes she will cause problems just because she is the only women there; a Jailbait during that time had sexual connotations which were very sexist in the way George used it. This conveys how Curleys wife is subject to stiff prejudice; she consequently finds solace in the form of her dreams. Later in the novel we find that her dream is to be in the pitchers and shows as she met an actor who said she could go with that show, she seems determined to pursue this when she is talking to Lennie. Her dream is to be famous and independent, yet this dream seems doomed to fail as her ambitious dream is reliant on a world that enforces Steinbecks hostile image of a society that was predominantly prejudiced. Moreover we find that while in crooks room Steinbeck has decided to place all of the marginalised characters together in one place. This is vitally important as it shows the characters who suffer prejudice engage some empathy from the reader especially with Crooks who suffers racism from Curleys wife, I could get you strung upso easy it aint even funny, she demonstrates how easily she changes from being the victim to the abuser. This reinforces Steinbecks grim worldview as it shows how in her moment of her greatest vulnerability, Curleys wife seeks out greater weaknesses in others, they left all the weak ones here, she preys upon Lennies handicap, Candys debilitating age and the colour of Crooks skin in order to shield herself from harm. The death of Curleys wife is very significant in the way she is presented by Steinbeck as she seems to be the catalyst in the book that creates trouble. Indeed Candy remarks this when he discovers her body and realises his dream of a better life is over, You God damn trampEverbody knowed youd mess things up He assumes a harsh tone as he blames Curleys wife who is the tramp that has messed things up, this is contrasted with his softness in referring to what Lennie has done, didnt think hed do nothing like this Curleys wife is shown as the cause of the trouble even in her death as Candys dream is shattered with what he accepts as her actions. Curley is similarly angered and he is more concerned with Lennie and planning to shoot im in the guts than with his wife who has just been a victim of a violent murder, this conveys how Curley lacks any sense of sadness and has just used this as an excuse to exact revenge on Lennie. The foreshadowing through the colour red links from the girl in red in weed to Curleys wife and has hinted the danger that lurks with Curleys wife. Through the colour red, Steinbeck signifies what is ultimately going to happen to Lennie and Curleys wife with the connotations of danger from red; it also poses as the threat in the novel as it foreshadows the blood that is to be shed later on in the book. Overall Curleys wife is presented ambiguously and as a complex character who is flirtatious, vindictive and pitiful. Her early images of harshness and the stereotypical spoilt girl are replaced with sympathetic views when she dies as she seemed peaceful and actually did nothing wrong. She struggled in a world which never suited her attitude and ambition where she was always searching for something that resulted in the unfortunate marriage to Curley, possibly her vanity ends up killing her but we are left with the enduring image after her death of the pigeon that flew through the open hay door suggesting that Curleys wife is finally free of her life which creates a pleasant image of her that summarises her struggle yet also her essentially good but flawed character.