They dream of roots, stability, and independence. George is supportive of and helpful to Lennie as a friend should. [P2] The death serves as a reminder of the incredible strength Lennie had and shows how he (tragically) misused it. Curley is so enraged at his wife's supposed infidelity that he runs off, focusing his anger on Lennie. Why does Curley's wife offer to let Lennie caress her hair? When she begins to scream, Lennie covers her mouth with his hand. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin. This is largely due to his intellectual disability, which makes it difficult for him to understand other people or anticipate the consequences of his actions. What happened to lennies puppy? And also because she could be doing better in her life instead of sitting around being bored and only being able to associate with Curley. In Chapter 5, Lennie accidently kills his puppy by being too rough with it. This basically proves and enforces the reality that Lennie influences almost every part of Georges life. Course well shoot im. George has no family, so having a friend with him gives him purpose in his troublesome life. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-did-lennie-say-about-curleys-wife-2061. Being the only woman on the farm and her past, resulted in her being depressed and lonely. curley's wife tells Lennie that "You are nuts , but you kinda nice fella". He doesn't mean to do it; as always with Lennie, he doesn't . Got kinda used to each other after a little while. (40) George takes care of Lennie because Lennie is his friend; George does not have to, but he wants to. Curley's wife begins to struggle, which sends Lennie into a panic. she says Well, a show come through, and I met one of the actors. Lennie is responsible for killing Curley's wife because he did it. and any corresponding bookmarks? Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Instead of companionship for George, there is a future of loneliness. Someone once said, A villain is just a victim whose story hasnt been told. The character known as Curleys Wife in Of Mice and Men is portrayed in John Steinbecks writing as an antagonist. Latest answer posted December 31, 2020 at 3:22:45 PM. Eventually, she brings about the end of the dream of Eden, the little farm where George and Lennie can live off the fat of the land. Before he knows it, he has broken her neck. She is, after all, the wife of the boss's very jealous son. Lennie's puppy died because he handled it too roughly; he killed it. What is Curley's wife's dream in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck. Before he breaks her neck, he puts his hand over her mouth to muffle her screams, and says angrily to her that "You gonna get me in trouble." First, Curley's wife insists on talking with Lennie even after he warns her that he "ain't supposed to" because "George's scared [he'll] get in trouble." Then Curley's wife invites Lennie to pet her soft hair, but when he gets too rough, she " jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on She tries talking to Lennie, Crooks, and Candy, but they want her to leave. This represents the hopelessness of men like them. Lennie is innocent in that hes naive about the ways of the world. She starts to regret living there because of the way they treat her. She sees the dead puppy and consoles him, saying that no one will care about the loss of a mere mutt. Curley's wife is the only female character who is directly featured in the novel. He then, at her invitation, starts stroking her hair, commenting "that's nice," before he accidentally breaks her neck after she starts screaming when he strokes too hard. The death of Curley's wife sets off a chain reaction for the events that close out "Of Mice and Men". Why does Curley's wife get angry when Lennie tells her that George said he shouldn't talk to her? Curley objectifies his wife by threatening the other men, monitoring her movements, and dismissing her individual needs. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? Not affiliated with Harvard College. Curley's wife did not know that day in the barn would be her last. What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? He will do whatever George tells him to: "Curley was flopping like a fish on a line, and his closed fist was lost in Lennie's hand". 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Lennie, who has been warned to have nothing to do with her, tries to resist being drawn into conversation, but she prevails, telling him that the other men are too busy with their horseshoe tournament to care whether he talks to her or not. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime. George then warns Lennie to keep away from her. A struggle ensues Lennie panicking and Curley's wife's eyes "wild with terror" until her body flops "like a fish" and then she is still. How do you draw a princess easy for kids? She is utterly alone on the ranch, and her husband has seen to it that no one will talk to her without fearing a beating. Curley shows his vindictive nature in recommending that Lennie be shot in the stomach. Milton Who is Curley?Curley is the boss's son. Why does Curley's wife offer to let Lennie pet her hair? Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? Meester states that John Steinbeck isnt being outright. George knows that he has to kill Lennie in order to protect him. Her death at Lennie's hands means the end of George and Lennie's companionship and their dream. Why did Curleys wife let Lennie pet her hair? He enjoys "pettin'" soft things, puppies, rabbits and mice but he is so strong that he kills them with his fingers as he did in chapter one whilst George and Lennie were walking along. Log in here. They treat her wrong because in this novella they only calls her Curleys wife they never called her by her name so no one will ever know what it was. He keeps repeating "she's purty." George is immediately alarmed by this, and with uncharacteristic vehemence, he instructs Lennie to stay away from her. Then she had let him touch her hair, causing him to grab on and him basically killing her. Upon meeting Curly's wife, Lennie is immediately attracted to her, calling her "purty." I mean not the way she died, but I was glad it happened because like I said before I hated her, because she always caused trouble and never, In the novel Of Mice and Men, it strongly sets a devastating scene towards the end, yet what was done was necessary. I say this because she is always trying to get people in trouble, shes always causing trouble, and she never once does anything on her own, shes always has to go bother the guys, like Lennie. After she became mad about her hair being messed up, she began to yell and Lennie thought she was going to get him in trouble. Curley's wife is terribly lonely. Curley was also rude towards everyone and, he even attacked people who he thinks were with her wife. She understands his fondness of soft things. Lennie experiences two visions in this last scene. Or was she just a lonely girl looking to have real conversations and to be noticed? A bit hurt and confused, Lennie points out that George was looking at her too. DEROGATORY depiction of Curley's wife by Curley., Characterisation of Curley's wife is based on her appearance . In summary, these brief comments are the only comments Lennie makes about Curley's Wife. Immediately after killing Curley's wife, Lennie travels back to his hidden meeting spot by the river and waits for George while Curley leads a lynch mob after him. George slapped Lennie in the face repeatedly and still Lennie held on. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. When George claims that they might find Lennie first and bring him in and lock him up, Slim explains that Curley will want to kill him, and even if he doesn't, how would Lennie like being locked up and strapped down like an animal in a cage? Everyday we are influenced by our goals or dreams. If Lennie hadn't killed Curley's wife, he would have done something else to upset Curley, leading to his eventual death or the permanent loss of his and George's dream. Every character takes the opportunity to not be lonely even if they know that they're going to get hurt. Many of the male characters on the ranch feel threatened by her, calling her jailbait because she is flirtatious. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. When Lennie realizes that she is dead, he panics and paws the hay to partially cover her. The death of Curley's wife comes as a tragic result of Lennie's ignorance of his strength. Lennie is crying because he has killed his puppy. Thats a thing I want ya to know (Steinbeck 106). In the first chapter of Of Mice and Men, what does George say to Lennie about how his life could be better without him? How do you make Israeli couscous not mushy? In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curley's wife enters. . On page 98 Curley says Hes got Carlsons Luger. person she could talk to. In Chapter 5, Curley's lonely wife finds Lennie in one of the stalls, stroking his puppy that has died, probably because he has handled it too much. After all, Lennie is a big man, and Curly figures that fighting him will either raise his stature amongst the men. https://velvetblory.co.uk/post/11076202092/steinbecks-letter. Candy finds Curley's wife and runs out to find George, who, upon seeing the body, knows what happened. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. Lennie, however, is still trying to figure out how to get rid of the dead pup so that George won't know. She is usually described as Curley's possession and is frequently objectified by the ranch hands. Both of them start to talk, and Curley's wife launches into a discussion of her own failed . He thinks that killing the puppy has more consequences. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. My opinion towards Curleys Wife, is that she can be a little too flirty at times. He accidentally broke her neck while trying to calm her down. No mess at all, and when the end of the month come I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want" In this quote George talks about all the things he could do if he was alone, he could just abandon Lennie if he wishes too, but he chooses to stay, because he has sympathy for Lennie. She is lonely and 853 words Read More Outline For Of Mice And Men Loneliness Essay Essay Outline What happened after Lennie kills Curley's wife? When Lennie started touching her hair, she got upset and started screaming. And then about a year later when Lennie accidentally killed Curleys wife, the whole farm was after him. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean? Curley's wife tells Lennie that she only married Curley because she didn't want to stay in a place where she couldn't get anywhere, and she doesn't even like Curley, and she chose to confide in Lennie because she thinks he's not one to tell for fear that it he does he will get in trouble with George. What does curley's wife tell Lennie about her past? Do ACE inhibitors cause shortness of breath? Of mice an men film (1992) It also shows what negative outcomes can come out of doing this. He did this . treated him as if he was her closest friend ,but Lennie was warried Candy Candy comes into the barn to talk to Lennie and finds Curley's wife. Of Mice and Men is about the American Dream, Of Mice and Men is about the loss of innocence, George and Lennie's dream of owning a farm, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-does-curleys-wifes-death-symbolise-mice-men-284566. He keeps repeating "she's purty." But in the movie she was in a very different situation. He didnt mean to harm, or scare her. As a result, he broke her neck. What happened after Lennie kills Curley's wife? Curly's wife does not have a name in the story. First, George could have let Curley and the rest of the guys handle getting rid of Lennie. Who is Katy mixon body double eastbound and down season 1 finale? What happened to Lennie's puppy? The reactions to her death start a manhunt against Lennie. What quotes show that Crooks is lonely in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck? While the initial reaction to her death is a manhunt led by Curley, her death eventually leads to Lennie's death at the hands of George. As she tries to get her hair away from Lennie, he becomes scared and holds on more tightly. George and Lennies dream is impossible once Lennie has killed Curleys wife. Curleys wife was murdered by Lennie in John Steinbecks story, Of Mice and Men. Georges caring nature makes him a good friend because it shows that he is willing to protect Lennie when hes in trouble. She complains about nobody talking to her and then, thinking Lennie is like a child, lets Lennie pet her hair. 2011-09-05 20:43:43. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? Already a member? She brings evil into mens' lives by tempting them in a way they cannot resist. She stays, however, and again asks him what he is covering up. When she continues to struggle, Lennie grows angry. George and Candy call her by other names such as "jailbait" or "tart." What does Curley's wife say she could have done to Crooks? How are Lennies two visions indicative of his childlike innocence? According to the text All the time he coulda had such a good time if it wasnt for you. From the beginning of the novella, Steinbeck foreshadows that Lennie will accidentally kill Curleys wife while trying to stroke her hair. A struggle ensues Lennie panicking and Curley's wife's eyes "wild with terror" until her body flops "like a fish" and then she is still. Lennie is fascinated by her and cannot take his eyes off her. She knows she can get Lennie to talk with her while the other men are playing games outside. Curley's wife was murdered by Lennie in John Steinbeck's story, Of Mice and Men. Her death also is a reminder of the incredible strength Lennie held and how incapable he was at managing it. George also made Candy feel better when his dog died. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? Lennie is responsible for killing Curleys wife because he did it. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. He says I could go with that show. Lennie is alone inside the barn, stroking a dead puppy. Why does Lennie become angry with Curley's wife? Once Curley sees his dead wife, he says he will shoot Lennie in the guts. George has lied about the Luger because he has taken it; he does not want to admit this act as the men will believe he is involved in Curleys wifes death and hurt him, too, and he will not be able to accompany the men and intercede for Lennie when they find him, or to take action on his own. He does, but his big, clumsy fingers start to mess it up, and she angrily tells him to let go. Both of them start to talk, and Curley's wife launches into a discussion of her own failed dreams. Curley's Wife. Alive, she is connected to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He panicked and shook her and when he stopped, she was dead. Candy says they need to let Lennie get away because Curley will lynch him, but George realizes how hopeless escape would be. He is upset at the puppy for dying. Lennie was touching Curley's wife's hair when he went too far, and touched her too hard. Had Curley found him, he would have exacted his revenge for both breaking his hand earlier in the novel, and for murdering his wife, he says "I'm gonna get him. Curley's wife tells Lennie of her life and her missed opportunity to travel with the show that came through her hometown. Ill go right off in the hills an find a cave if you dont want me.. She is defined by her role: Curley's wife or possession. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Having a wife shows possession of power and a higher rank., She is objectified and embarrassed by her husband, linking to the lack of respect for women in the 1930s. Lennie easily lets down his guard. Upon meeting Curly's wife, Lennie is immediately attracted to her, calling her "purty." George is immediately alarmed by this, and with uncharacteristic vehemence, he instructs Lennie to. How does George feel after killing Lennie? Curlys wife is the loneliest character she is willing to talk to anyone even Lennie. He was her friend because Curley never spend time with her Picking up the dead pup, he leaves to go to the hiding place. George goes to the bunkhouse. I chose Curley, George, and Curleys wife , because I thought they were the most interesting characters in this book. Removing #book# Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curleys wife enters. She doesn't have a good relationship with her husband. What happened to Lennies puppy? As Lenny and Curleys wife connect deeply, she lets him touch her soft hair; however, Lennie would not let go. George and Candy call her by other names such as "jailbait" or "tart." She wears too much makeup and dresses like a "whore" with red fingernails and red shoes with ostrich feathers. Everything that George did or tried to do was always influenced by Lennies wellbeing. When Lennie is holding the dead puppy, he looks at it and says, You aint so little as mice. She believes that there is both a lack of reason to truly hate this woman, and the undeniable urge to do so. I myself find Curley 's wife to be a bit misunderstood. Removing #book# What happens as a result? [P1] The death of Curley's wife leads to a manhunt that places in danger. She wasnt aware that being friendly and kind would take a turn for the worse. Her beauty is such that perhaps that dream might have come true. In killing Lennie, George loses both a friend and a representation of his dreams. The person most responsible for Lennies death is George. She is the only woman on a ranch full of grown men who work all day, I can see how she could get lonely and seek attention to herself to pass the time. EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie, EMMY NOMINATIONS 2022: Outstanding Lead Actor In A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie. He was her friend because Curley never spend time with her and that times women were treted not as they are treated now .She treated him as if he was her closest friend ,but Lennie was warried. George decides to end Lennie's life while describing their dream homestead one last time . But was she? What are the 4 major sources of law in Zimbabwe. This dream comes to a screeching halt when Lennie kills the boss's son's wife. Later in the novel, Lennie is in the barn with a puppy that he has accidentally killed, and Curley's Wife walks in. Lennie easily lets down his guard. Hearing the horseshoe game outside, he understands that someone will come in sooner or later and discover the bad thing he has done. He doesn't mean to do it; as always with Lennie, he doesn't . He shakes her violently, telling her to keep quiet so that George doesn't hear her. he woulda took his pay and raised hell in the whore house, and he coulda set in a pool room an played snooker, but he gotta take care of you (Page#101, Steinbeck). As the story continues, there are many hidden indications that she could be seen as a much simpler, innocent presence, rather than an evil. And it's her who. He tells Lennie about the 'little place' that they are going to get with 'a cow' and the 'little piece alfalfa' that is 'for the rabbits'. She lies dead on the hay. Study now. when she did not receive a letter from 'producer of the movies', out of anger she blamed her mother and hastily rushed into a She lets Lennie stroke her hair, but she panics when she feels his strength. If you're interested in learning more about Curley's wife, I've provided a link to a copy of a letter that Steinbeck wrote to an actress who was playing Curley's wife in a stage adaptation of the story. More books than SparkNotes. What did Lennie do to curleys wife? Describe Curley's wife. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Wiki User. The protagonists of the novella, George and Lennie, are heading to work at a ranch after fleeing from their last job.. Before he knows it, he has broken her neck. 490 Words. Why does Curley's wife always seek out the ranch hands? Lennie repeats George's instructions that he is not to talk to her. As Lenny sits in the barn staring at the dead pup he did not mean to kill, Curleys wife comes in and sympathises with Lenny. What are two examples showing how Lennie is discriminated against because of his disability in the book Of Mice and Men? Lennie's innocence is what originally draws Curley's wife to him, but his strength will be her downfall. She is clearly starved for conversation and launches into a reprise of her discontented story of what might have been. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. One of the handfuls of characters with impairment in this book is Curley's Wife. In the letter, Steinbeck explains the character from his perspective. Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Lonely 878 Words | 4 Pages. Her and Lennie as he acts like a child and likes to feel soft things. This also shows that George could have had a good life, even a better life if his dream of being able to take care of Lennie did not become a burden upon himself and influenced his life so greatly. She is painted as an emotionless tramp who is looking to get with anyone she can. George helps him by giving him short commands and telling him to repeat things to himself to remember things. Immediately he remembers to hide in the brush until George comes. And Candy is lonely character the reason being that he had a best friend who later dies, Candy is feeling less of use he is willing to do anything to feel useful. When he first meets her, he says that she is "purty," and then soon thereafter says, "Gosh, she was purty.". Immediately after killing Curley's wife, Lennie travels back to his hidden meeting spot by the river and waits for George while Curley leads a lynch mob after him. Therefore, Curley's wife's death is not crucial to the plot. "What did Lennie say about Curley's wife?" Lennie becomes angry with Curley's wife because he is afraid she will tell the other men that he touched her and he will get in trouble. companionshipt with Lennie. Curley's wife says he can get another one. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. with Curley. Lennie would not fare well in a prison setting, nor would he be able to defend himself if Curley or the other men attempted to hurt him. < (1 of 2) Next argument > The Argument The death of Curley's wife sets off a chain reaction for the events that close out "Of Mice and Men". Lennie responds absently with concern about his dream farm and the rabbits he will have. 2 Pages. Everyone is equal boy are girl, black are white, handicap are not so we should be treated as so. The reactions to her death start a manhunt against Lennie. Curly's wife has many reasons for being lonely. Why does Curleys wife get angry at Lennie in Chapter 5? Lennie, who gets frightened and uses his strength to hold on to objects, is just like a child. Crooks is also a lonely character he is willing to take any chance if he can make a friend, even if he knows he can't do help out. How I first felt about her in chapter 2 is that, I thought she was kind of bossy and I honestly knew that I was going to hate her. George, realizing Lennie's fascination, warns him to stay away from her. He tries to make her stop screaming and kills her by accident. Curley's wife knows her beauty is her power, and she uses it to flirt with the ranch hands and make her husband jealous. Is it right to blame anyone for their own death on themselves when they were murdered for doing nothing wrong? In the article Im not a tart, Meester, the actor who plays Curleys wife on Broadway, has an interesting opinion to this girl without a name. The movie made you look at her in a different light. Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. Lennie is responsible for killing Curley's wife because he did it. We are mapping the world's opinions to help improve civil discourse. Curley's Wife Abuse Quotes. Since Lennie did something to Curley's wife, and his hand Curley had the motivation to shoot him, and make him suffer. She is portrayed, like the girl in Weed, as a liar and manipulator of men. This quote shows that George is killing Lennie for Lennies own good. Curleys wife did not know that day in the barn would be her last. Thats a thing I want ya to know (Steinbeck 106). Accessed 4 Mar. In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curley's wife enters. In fact, Curley's wife leads to all of the trouble Lennie has on the ranch. She insists that she could have been an actress. Curley's wife is always flirting with the ranch hands, because she wants attention that she does not get from Curley. After finding Curley's wife dead, Curley had a horrible idea of making Lennie suffer. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. In Of Mice and Men, how and why does Lennie kill Curley's wife? Let's be honest I was glad she died. When Lennie explains that he likes to pet soft things, Curley's wife reveals that she too likes to feel silk and velvet, and she invites him to feel her hair, which is very soft. After Curley finds out that his wife has died, he becomes determined to kill Lennie gruesomely for revenge. When George questions Candy for the reason he acts that way, Candy . She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. In chapter five, George suggests to put Lennie in jail, but Slim, a jerkline skinner, quickly shot that down by saying that it would not be right if he was strapped down, and locked up in a cage, (5,9). In the depression stricken 1930's, George Milton and Lennie Smalls are saving money until they can buy their dream homestead. It would be easier to carry a dead puppy than a dead woman to hide. fella". When she begins to scream, Lennie covers her mouth with his hand. Lennie killed it by snapping its neck because he thought the puppy was going to bite him. What does the swamper tell George about Curley's left hand? If George and Lennie hadnt run away, Lennie could have suffered a terrible fate. Being the only woman on the farm and her past, resulted in her being depressed and lonely. However, right before and after her death, we see a softer woman who was a dreamer, and still retained her innocence. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. In the scene in Crooks' room, she reminds Crooks of his place and threatens to have him lynched if he doesn't show her the proper respect as the wife of the boss' son and a white woman. She starts to wish that she would have lived somewhere else and became an actress. Lennie begins to feel her hair and likes it very much indeed, which leads him to pet it too hard. Candy asserts that he and George can still have their farm, but George realizes that it will never happen. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. Her dreams make her more human and vulnerable. Latest answer posted December 07, 2020 at 5:10:16 PM. Also I believe that Curley's wife obviously knows that Lennie broke Curley's hand and therefore that shows that Lennie is shown as powerful and I think that Curley's wife likes a powerful man and finds that attractive hence the reason why she chose Curley to marry in the first place as he's quite powerful as we know. Lennie is crying because he has killed his puppy. Lennie has a mental disability, making him dependent upon George to manage day to day life in the difficult environment in which they live and work. When he killed her, it was as if he was losing a companion, leaving Lennie with a sad feeling of loss. The fact that Lennie anticipates the same pattern this time is indicative of his childlike innocence. What does Lennie think of Curley? Curley objectifies his wife by threatening the other men, monitoring her movements, and dismissing her individual needs. Curley's wife, like the other players in the drama, is simply a character type and the only woman in the plot. Following his comment, Curley's wife chatters on, explaining more about her lost chance to become an actress and how she met Curley. George is not being deliberately hurtful to his friend, however, he simply sees the danger that the two interacting could pose. Lennie fails to understand her at all, however, as he continues to return to the dilemma of the dead puppy and his anxiety over being denied the right to tend the rabbits. She knows she can get Lennie to talk with her while the other men are playing games outside. First, Curley's wife insists on talking with Lennie even after he warns her that he ain't supposed to because George's scared [he'll] get in trouble. Then Curley's wife invites Lennie to pet her soft hair, but when he gets too rough, she jerked her head sideways, and Lennie's fingers closed on her hair and hung on . Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, takes place during the time of The Great Depression; an era extremely difficult for women. First, when George was introducing himself and Lennie to their new boss, he said, I never seen one guy take so much trouble for another guy. This shows that George was portraying that he cares about Lennie enough to be picked up on by others.