Even Lennie is guilty of crimes and petty cruelty, and no one is above being awful to others. Why does Curley's wife always seek out the ranch hands? Why does George kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men? First, George could have let Curley and the rest of the guys handle getting rid of Lennie. I aint mad, an I aint now. Curley's wife is a. Latest answer posted August 09, 2017 at 8:49:59 AM. Steinbeck's initial portrayal of Curley's wife shows her to be a mean and seductive temptress. Lennie is crying because he has killed his puppy. Thats a thing I want ya to know (Steinbeck 106). 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. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. He tries to make her stop screaming and kills her by accident. 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. But my ol lady wouldn 't, Tart, Tramp, trouble, Bitch, are just some of the names given to Curley 's wife, who is never given a name in the entire book. She brings evil into mens' lives by tempting them in a way they cannot resist. And then about a year later when Lennie accidentally killed Curleys wife, the whole farm was after him. George slapped Lennie in the face repeatedly and still Lennie held on. Removing #book# Hearing the horseshoe game outside, he understands that someone will come in sooner or later and discover the bad thing he has done. What happened to Lennie's puppy? When Lennie shows her the dead puppy, she tells him it was just a mutt and no one will care, but Lennie explains that George won't let him tend the rabbits because he did a bad thing again. How do you make Israeli couscous not mushy? 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 is defined by her role: Curley's wife or possession. Candy finds Curley's wife and runs out to find George, who, upon seeing the body, knows what happened. She is pretty with nice clothes, painted nails, and red hair. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# 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. 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. She is portrayed, like the girl in Weed, as a liar and manipulator of men. Lennie is alone inside the barn, stroking a dead puppy. Carlson, Whit, Curley, and Crooks come back in the barn with Candy and, following them, George. George and Lennies dream is impossible once Lennie has killed Curleys wife. She is usually described as Curley's possession and is frequently objectified by the ranch hands. 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). 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. What did Curleys wife tell Lennie? 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. Her main reason is because her husband doesn't allow her to be social. Of mice and men book. George, realizing Lennie's fascination, warns him to stay away from her. Study now. George again shows that he is caring when George encourages, In the novella of Mice And Men, although the men on the ranch are threatened by and, Lennie is in many ways helpless and does not know how to care for himself. He grabs a hold of her hair and muffles her screams. He was willing to lie about being Lennies cousin to get him a job. 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-did-lennie-say-about-curleys-wife-2061. 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". He was scared that George would get mad at him and not let him tend the rabbits. 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. < (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". The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. He is upset at the puppy for dying. 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. My feelings about her throughout the book did not change, I didnt like her at all from the beginning. What does Lennie think of Curley? Describe Curley's wife. This causes Lennie to panic in turn, and he breaks her neck. What happened to Lennies puppy? This dream comes to a screeching halt when Lennie kills the boss's son's wife. eNotes Editorial, 6 Apr. He also says Im gonna shoot the guts outta that big bastard myself, even if I only got one hand. These quotes prove that Curley doesnt care if he kills someone, or how that person feels. However, right before and after her death, we see a softer woman who was a dreamer, and still retained her innocence. In the barn scene, however, Steinbeck softens the reader's reaction to Curley's wife by exploring her dreams. 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. treated him as if he was her closest friend ,but Lennie was warried 490 Words. Who scolds Lennie after he kills Curleys wife? In killing Lennie, George loses both a friend and a representation of his dreams. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. I chose Curley, George, and Curleys wife , because I thought they were the most interesting characters in this book. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Curley's wife enters the barn and asks Lennie what he has. When Lennie is holding the dead puppy, he looks at it and says, You aint so little as mice. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Essential Quotes by Character: Lennie Small. She screamed, and he grabbed her, telling her to be quiet. This represents the hopelessness of men like them. 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. Curleys wife regrets marrying her husband and strives for attention by flirting with the workers on the ranch. Immediately he remembers to hide in the brush until George comes. Lennie easily lets down his guard. 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. He doesn't mean to do it; as always with Lennie, he doesn't . Steinbeck has said that this is because she isn't a person, she simply exists to be a danger to Lennie. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# 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. fella". Curleys wife is introduced just like any other; however, the emphasis on her feminine features are metaphoric to where women stand in society. Although Lennie is the one who physically kills Curley's wife, Of Mice and Men consistently shows that Lennie is not to blame for her death. George shot him in the temple of his head for a quick and painless death. He says I could go with that show. [P3] The manhunt ultimately results in the death of Lennie. 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. Before he knows it, he has broken her neck. What does the swamper tell George about Curley's left hand? Lennie feels guilty about the death of Curleys wife. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. 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. She told Lennie that she didn't like Curley and that she had had other opportunities to go places and make something of herself, but she couldn't take advantage of them, so she married Curley as the next most likely way to get out of her hometown. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Thats a thing I want ya to know (Steinbeck 106). Curley was also rude towards everyone and, he even attacked people who he thinks were with her wife. 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. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Lennies death paralleled Candys dogs death because they were both considered burdens. 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. It's her fault Curley enters the bunkhouse when Lennie crushes the small man's hand. 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 Curleys wife tell Lennie and why? 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. People who are murdered should not get the blame for the killer's actions when not due. Not affiliated with Harvard College. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. Candy says they need to let Lennie get away because Curley will lynch him, but George realizes how hopeless escape would be. 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. George decides to end Lennie's life while describing their dream homestead one last time . What happened between Lennie and Curleys wife in the barn? In the first section, George scolds Lennie for petting mice until they die. She is, after all, the wife of the boss's very jealous son. Lennie becomes so angry that he hurls the dead puppy across the barn. George knows that he has to kill Lennie in order to protect him. Why Do Cross Country Runners Have Skinny Legs? In particular, he struggles to comprehend that what is perfectly normal to. Already a member? In order to prove that society makes it impossible for certain people to attain The American Dream, Steinbeck objectifies, sexualizes, and kills Curleys wife to show that women cannot reach The American Dream. She starts to regret living there because of the way they treat her. She knows she can get Lennie to talk with her while the other men are playing games outside. 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. This basically proves and enforces the reality that Lennie influences almost every part of Georges life. Lennie is innocent in that hes naive about the ways of the world. Worried that George will find out and won't let him tend the rabbits, Lennie buries the dead pup in the hay and says that he will claim to have found it dead. She lets Lennie stroke her hair, but she panics when she feels his strength. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. 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. The death of Curley's wife is ultimately unimportant to the novel's outcome since it is clear that George and Lennie were never going to achieve the American dream and live on a farm of their own. Do ACE inhibitors cause shortness of breath? Lennie tried to tell her to stop and she would not. How Did Critics React to Of Mice and Men? Both of them start to talk, and Curley's wife launches into a discussion of her own failed dreams. He panicked and shook her and when he stopped, she was dead. He can't stop but she wants him to stop and she screams. This one dream has influenced George by so much that it began to take most of his freedom, and in the process, becoming an aspect of his life. 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. In Chapter 5, Lennie is sitting alone until Curley's wife enters. He shakes her violently, telling her to keep quiet so that George doesn't hear her. Summary and Analysis Curleys wife was murdered by Lennie in John Steinbecks story, Of Mice and Men. Latest answer posted November 19, 2020 at 6:35:21 PM. George realizes that if the other men were to find Lennie alive they would have tortured him. Curley's wife observes that Lennie is "[j]us' like a big baby" (99) and invites him to stroke her soft hair. 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. George and Candy call her by other names such as "jailbait" or "tart." Curley objectifies his wife by threatening the other men, monitoring her movements, and dismissing her individual needs. Lennie was touching Curley's wife's hair when he went too far, and touched her too hard. Latest answer posted December 31, 2020 at 3:22:45 PM. For example, in Of Mice and Men George tells Lennie, No, Lennie. 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'. Why did George feel like he had to kill Lennie? Curley's wife is promiscuous and prettyshe dresses in a provocative. Curley's wife is always flirting with the ranch hands, because she wants attention that she does not get from Curley. Why does Curleys wife get angry at Lennie in Chapter 5? 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. The swamper says that Curley keeps a glove full of Vaseline on it to keep his hand "soft" for his new wife. Lennie is physically very strong (so his name is ironic), but cannot control himself, leading to escalating acts of accidental violence through the book. Ill go right off in the hills an find a cave if you dont want me.. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Course well shoot im. Curley's wife is the only female character who is directly featured in the novel. It would be easier to carry a dead puppy than a dead woman to hide. curley's wife tells Lennie that "You are nuts , but you kinda nice fella". Curley's wife is terribly lonely. from your Reading List will also remove any 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. This quote shows that George is killing Lennie for Lennies own good. She is lonely and 853 words Read More Outline For Of Mice And Men Loneliness Essay Essay Outline He tells Candy to give him a minute to go to the bunkhouse before telling the other men; then George will come along as though he had not already seen Curley's wife. person she could talk to. The novella contains many iconic characters that serve as a metaphor to our societal standards. George first shows that hes caring when he and Lennie run away from Weed because Lennie touched a girls dress. Curley shows his vindictive nature in recommending that Lennie be shot in the stomach. Being the only woman on the farm and her past, resulted in her being depressed and lonely. 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. Meester states that John Steinbeck isnt being outright. When Lennie started touching her hair, she got upset and started screaming. What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? She consoles him, and starts to talk. Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife by shaking and breaking her neck. I could go get a job an' work, an' no trouble. Following his comment, Curley's wife chatters on, explaining more about her lost chance to become an actress and how she met Curley. George considers what will happen to Lennie: They could lock Lennie up, but he'd starve, and people would be mean to him. What are two examples showing how Lennie is discriminated against because of his disability in the book Of Mice and Men? What is Curley's wife's dream in Of Mice and Menby John Steinbeck. Lennie easily lets down his guard. 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. As a result, he shakes her and breaks her neck. 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. The death of Curley's wife comes as a tragic result of Lennie's ignorance of his strength. What does Curley's wife say she could have done to Crooks? [P2] The death serves as a reminder of the incredible strength Lennie had and shows how he (tragically) misused it. See answer (1) Copy. 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. George goes to the bunkhouse. In Of Mice and Men, George feels anguish after killing Lennie, but he knows that killing Lennie was the most humane thing to do. Candy Candy comes into the barn to talk to Lennie and finds Curley's wife. As she tries to get her hair away from Lennie, he becomes scared and holds on more tightly. Curly's wife does not have a name in the story. Why did Curleys wife let Lennie pet her hair? She is clearly starved for conversation and launches into a reprise of her discontented story of what might have been. 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. The protagonists of the novella, George and Lennie, are heading to work at a ranch after fleeing from their last job.. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. TimesMojo is a social question-and-answer website where you can get all the answers to your questions. When his Aunt Clara died, Lennie just come along with me out workin. Steinbeck reiterates this impression by portraying her innocence in death: Curley's wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. Why did Curley's wife rush to marry Curley? Therefore, Curley's wife's death is not crucial to the plot. But was she? Being the only woman on the farm and her past, resulted in her being depressed and lonely. How do you draw a princess easy for kids? When he killed her, it was as if he was losing a companion, leaving Lennie with a sad feeling of loss. Lennie repeats George's instructions that he is not to talk to her. 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. In the book Of Mice and Men, the character of Curley's wife best captures the isolation felt by so many characters because she is the only woman on the ranch and her husband has forbidden everyone from talking to her, she really is the loneliest person on the ranch. As the story continues, there are many hidden indications that she could be seen as a much simpler, innocent presence, rather than an evil. George gets him out safely and gets him a new job. George and Lennie have a dream: to scrounge enough money together to someday buy their own little house and a plot of land to farm. The reactions to her death start a manhunt against Lennie.