He accidentally broke her neck while trying to calm her down. Why did Curleys wife let Lennie pet her hair? In Of Mice and Men, innocence is the only quality that can keep a man from becoming old, lonely, and bitter. He can't stop but she wants him to stop and she screams. 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. Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck, takes place during the time of The Great Depression; an era extremely difficult for women. They dream of roots, stability, and independence. She complains about nobody talking to her and then, thinking Lennie is like a child, lets Lennie pet her hair. After Curley finds out that his wife has died, he becomes determined to kill Lennie gruesomely for revenge. Lennie begins to feel her hair and likes it very much indeed, which leads him to pet it too hard. Curley's Wife. Candy says they need to let Lennie get away because Curley will lynch him, but George realizes how hopeless escape would be. Curley's wife observes that Lennie is "[j]us' like a big baby" (99) and invites him to stroke her soft hair. She consoles him, and starts to talk. Lennie was touching Curley's wife's hair when he went too far, and touched her too hard. Is it right to blame anyone for their own death on themselves when they were murdered for doing nothing wrong? George was also influenced by his dream of protecting Lennie. she tells him she lost her virginity at the age of 15. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin. 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. Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. How long do you keep a Suboxone pill under your tongue? with Curley. 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. This is an echo of the story George earlier related to Slim about Lennie stroking a woman's red dress too hard back in Weed and the woman claiming rape. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. But then he uncovers the pup and strokes it again, realizing that George will know he killed it because George always knows and Lennie won't get to tend the rabbits. He shakes her violently, telling her to keep quiet so that George doesn't hear her. "You are nuts , but you kinda nice What does Lennie think of Curley? Lennie is physically very strong (so his name is ironic), but cannot control himself, leading to escalating acts of accidental violence through the book. After all, Lennie is a big man, and Curly figures that fighting him will either raise his stature amongst the men. Lennie's innocence is what originally draws Curley's wife to him, but his strength will be her downfall. She understands his fondness of soft things. What did Curleys wife tell Lennie? Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Not affiliated with Harvard College. 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). Her death at Lennie's hands means the end of George and Lennie's companionship and their dream. 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. It's her fault Curley enters the bunkhouse when Lennie crushes the small man's hand. When Slim asks George where Lennie might be, George tells Slim Lennie would have gone south (knowing all along that the little pool is north of the ranch). Steinbeck reiterates this impression by portraying her innocence in death: Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. This dream comes to a screeching halt when Lennie kills the boss's son's wife. What does the title Of Mice and Men mean? It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. 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 he first meets her, he says that she is "purty," and then soon thereafter says, "Gosh, she was purty.". Curley's wife comes by the bunkhouse and does a bit of flirting with George, Lennie, and any other males within viewing range. What is Curley's wife's dream in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck. He tells George that she is pretty, and he tells her that he can't talk to her because she'll get him "in a mess," which he tells her again just before he breaks her neck. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Curley shows his vindictive nature in recommending that Lennie be shot in the stomach. Curley is so enraged at his wife's supposed infidelity that he runs off, focusing his anger on Lennie. Curly's wife does not have a name in the story. George then warns Lennie to keep away from her. From the beginning of the novella, Steinbeck foreshadows that Lennie will accidentally kill Curleys wife while trying to stroke her hair. Curley's wife wanted to be an actress and she's lonely because Curley does not pay attention to her. I chose Curley for no empathy because, Curley didnt care about anyone except for his wife, and I think that Curley didnt even care about her wife, it was just lust. In Chapter Five, Curley's wife enters the barn in a dress decorated with red ostrich feathers. Once Curley sees his dead wife, he says he will shoot Lennie in the guts. 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. 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 Lennie, however, is still trying to figure out how to get rid of the dead pup so that George won't know. George and Lennies dream is impossible once Lennie has killed Curleys wife. [P2] The death serves as a reminder of the incredible strength Lennie had and shows how he (tragically) misused it. As Lenny and Curleys wife connect deeply, she lets him touch her soft hair; however, Lennie would not let go. Lennie is responsible for killing Curley's wife because he did it. [P3] The manhunt ultimately results in the death of Lennie. Later in the novel, Lennie is in the barn with a puppy that he has Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? Removing #book# He doesn't mean to do it; as always with Lennie, he doesn't . 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. On page 90, Curley's wife said When I do my hair sometimes, I jus set an stroke it cause its so soft. To show this she did it, she ran her fingers over the top of her head. What did Lennie do to curleys wife? 2011-09-05 20:43:43. 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. For example, he also said, I could. Carlson and Curley return, and Carlson claims that Lennie has stolen his Luger. Why did Curley's wife rush to marry Curley? Shortly after having thrown the puppy, Lennie picks it up again, stroking it and deciding that maybe George won't care. . 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. George and Candy call her by other names such as "jailbait" or "tart." The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. 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. Curleys wife is introduced just like any other; however, the emphasis on her feminine features are metaphoric to where women stand in society. Of Mice And Men Curley's Wife Lonely 878 Words | 4 Pages. Lennie's actions often create trouble, especially because he doesn't understand the consequences of the decisions he has made. Curley's wife begins to struggle, which sends Lennie into a panic. Milton Who is Curley?Curley is the boss's son. In fact, Curley's wife leads to all of the trouble Lennie has on the ranch. She gets angry because she doesn't understand why she cannot talk to anyone besides Curley. She doesn't have a good relationship with her husband. When Lennie is holding the dead puppy, he looks at it and says, You aint so little as mice. George is not being deliberately hurtful to his friend, however, he simply sees the danger that the two interacting could pose. The four people responsible for Lennies death are George, Curleys wife, Lennie, and Curley. to led, and that she is not happy in an unfulfilling relationship Curley's wife is terribly lonely. For example, in Of Mice and Men George tells Lennie, No, Lennie. She is extremely lonely and views Curley as mean-spirited. treated him as if he was her closest friend ,but Lennie was warried < (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". 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. Hearing the horseshoe game outside, he understands that someone will come in sooner or later and discover the bad thing he has done. The swamper says that Curley keeps a glove full of Vaseline on it to keep his hand "soft" for his new wife. Steinbeck seems to show, through Curley's wife, that even the worst of us have our humanity. Curley immediately blames Lennie, saying he will go for his shotgun and shoot Lennie in the guts. Georges caring nature makes him a good friend because it shows that he is willing to protect Lennie when hes in trouble. "What did Lennie say about Curley's wife?" He grabs a hold of her hair and muffles her screams. Many of the male characters on the ranch feel threatened by her, calling her jailbait because she is flirtatious. When Lennie is first introduced to Curley's wife, he notices that she is pretty, and stares at her, which satisfies her longing for attention: "Lennie's eyes moved down over her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little" (31). This causes Lennie to panic in turn, and he breaks her neck. 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. What happened after Lennie kills Curley's wife? What happened to Lennie's puppy? CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. from your Reading List will also remove any 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. He is worried that he won't be able to tend te rabbits. Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. 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. I understand that she is lonely when her husband is at work and/or at the whore house, but I think that she should be able to keep it under control. Now George has no dream, and he will end up working like the other ranch hands and spending his money in a poolroom or "some lousy cat house.". curley's wife tells Lennie that "You are nuts , but you kinda nice fella". 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. He tries to make her stop screaming and kills her by accident. Carlson, Whit, Curley, and Crooks come back in the barn with Candy and, following them, George. How do you draw a princess easy for kids? His death was symbolic because it could have represented the American Dream and the hope for a better tomorrow because it showed how their dreams did not come true and that their hopes were ruined by the end of their life. Curley's wife comes into Crooks's room because she's lonely. What did curley's wife confide in Lennie? 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. and that times women were treted not as they are treated now .She Following his comment, Curley's wife chatters on, explaining more about her lost chance to become an actress and how she met Curley. More books than SparkNotes. Lennie had to be killed because he didnt know his own strength. 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. What does Curleys wife tell Lennie and why? This adds extreme tension to the story. In the letter, Steinbeck explains the character from his perspective. Before Curley's wife leaves, what does she notice about Lennie? 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. Her dreams make her more human and vulnerable. After finding Curley's wife dead, Curley had a horrible idea of making Lennie suffer. He does not take responsibility for being too rough with the puppy and begins to worry about Georges reaction. And it's her who. He didnt mean to harm, or scare her. She stays, however, and again asks him what he is covering up. The reactions to her death start a manhunt against Lennie. Curley's wife is a. Curley's wife begins to struggle, which sends Lennie into a panic. Before he knows it, he has broken her neck. Later in the novel, Lennie is in the barn with a puppy that he has accidentally killed, and Curley's Wife walks in. Lennie is crying because he has killed his puppy. Why does Curleys wife get angry at Lennie in Chapter 5? One of the handfuls of characters with impairment in this book is Curley's Wife. The death of Curley's wife is also symbolically important and represents the futility of dreams. However, right before and after her death, we see a softer woman who was a dreamer, and still retained her innocence. George first shows that hes caring when he and Lennie run away from Weed because Lennie touched a girls dress. Curley is mistreated because of his size which causes him to lash out at his wife and the ranch workers to feel like he is in control. He was willing to lie about being Lennies cousin to get him a job. Are smallmouth or largemouth harder to fight. He is angry and vengeful not only because his wife has been killed, but also because Lennie had gotten the better of him previously, in the confrontation in which his hand was broken. He was her friend because Curley never spend time with her and any corresponding bookmarks? http://www.gradesaver.com/of-mice-and-men/study-guide/summary-chapter-five. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-did-lennie-say-about-curleys-wife-2061. What is are the functions of diverse organisms? More books than SparkNotes. She is lonely and 853 words Read More Outline For Of Mice And Men Loneliness Essay Essay Outline In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curley's wife enters. The death of Curley's wife comes as a tragic result of Lennie's ignorance of his strength. But was she? As she tries to get her hair away from Lennie, he becomes scared and holds on more tightly. Lennie responds absently with concern about his dream farm and the rabbits he will have. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. When Curleys wife screeches and shouts when Lenny will not let go of her hair, he shakes her violently to make her stop, yet he does, Curleys wife begins to regret living on the ranch with Curley. She knows she can get Lennie to talk with her while the other men are playing games outside. when she did not receive a letter from 'producer of the movies', Let's be honest I was glad she died. George is supportive of and helpful to Lennie as a friend should. He did this . 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Curley, carrying a shotgun, tells Carlson to take Crooks' shotgun, and the men leave, taking George with them to find Lennie. Steinbeck has said that this is because she isn't a person, she simply exists to be a danger to Lennie. Curley's wife says he can get another one. 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. She is extremely lonely and views Curley as mean-spirited. When Lennie first sees Curley's Wife, he comments that she is pretty, or "purty." Summary and Analysis She tries talking to Lennie, Crooks, and Candy, but they want her to leave. Notice that Lennie's face is bloody and bruised up from the fight with Curley. What happened that made George stop playing tricks on Lennie in Of Mice and Men? Curley treats George and Lennie poorly when he first meets them. George had a different idea for Lennie. Curley's wife is lonely, Lennie is mentally slow, Candy is old and without a right hand, and Crooks is black in a sad time when that is not extremely acceptable. One is Aunt Clara who scolds Lennie for letting George down and not listening to him. 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. "tend them rabits" if he talks to her. He grabs a hold of her hair and muffles her screams. Lennie becomes so angry that he hurls the dead puppy across the barn. When she continues to struggle, Lennie grows angry. 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. All of these appearances cause the reader to dislike her and see her as the downfall of the men in the story. My opinion towards Curleys Wife, is that she can be a little too flirty at times.
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