Notes on how Curley's wife is presented in scene where she dies

Curley’s wife’s death

·      “She entered very quietly so that Lennie didn’t see her” We see her manipulative side again, and this could prompt us to see her as a ‘tart’ and ‘a tramp’ like George and Candy do. At the same time however, as readers we are increasingly aware that Curley’s wife’s has no other option than to flaunt her body to get attention.

·      In heels

·      ‘little sausage curls’, ‘heavily made up’ – she always looks the same, one outfit/look >>>childlike, not appropriate for a ranch>>>> highlights how desperate she is for attention

·      She shares the same aspirations as Lennie – whereas he wants a farm she wants to escape from the ranch. Similar: childlike, vulnerable and desperately need protection – Both of them tragically cannot see the final consequences of their actions. They are both lonely because they don’t fit into the society.

·      “In a panic” repeated>> foreshadowing

·      Pace slows down…creates a sense of how serious this is

·      She encourages him to stroke her hair>>> and isn’t aware of where this will go

·      As readers, we have a clear sense of how this scene will end because of the heavy foreshadowing of Lennie previously killing things that he pets

·      She shares her most emotional thoughts in this scene>>> which is poignant at this point,”Because this guy said I was a natural”

·      There is something quite moving about the emotional honesty and genuine sense of sharing a common longing in this scene between them.

·      However CW remains narcissistic

·      She doesn’t really understand Lennie

·      She makes Lennie panic

·      “This whole country is fulla mutts”. Lennie and CW could be seen as “mutts” as could many other characters because they are easily replaceable and no one seems to notice when bad things happen to them. Irony – Dramatic irony – that as readers we sense this even though Curley’s wife herself is oblivious and thinks she is just talking about dogs.

·      “If I do any more bad things” highlights the tragic consequences of Lennie’s actions…also highlights that he can’t understand. Rabbits>>> demonstrate Lennie’s lack of intelligence/vulnerability/need for protection.

·      Very tense atmosphere: We want to intervene and rescue the characters: we can’t >>> this increases the pathos because this is the same for the characters.George feels this sense of powerlessness very keenly. In fact, powerlessness is common to all the characters in Of Mice and Men – this intensifies our emotional response.