To be Alone (Of Mice And Men) essays

To be Alone (Of Mice And Men) essays John Steinbecks Of Mice and Men paints a grim picture of human tendencies. The greatest downfall of human nature is the way in which people seek to harm others to make themselves feel stronger. This novel touches on various social minorities and the manner in which each is dealt with by the superior classes. The portrayal of women of the 1930s in Steinbecks novel is less than flattering. They are the root of all evil, intentionally leading to the downfall of man. In a time where women just received the vote not a decade before, it is obvious that a females role was not a prominent one in any setting. The only significant female of the story, Curleys wife, is initially portrayed as the temptress, prowling around the ranch looking for trouble in the form of a susceptible man. But as the story goes on, she becomes increasingly complex, and some motives to her madness are revealed. She got the eye. This is the first reference to Curley s wife, given by the old man, Candy. His bias as an older gentleman, who grew up in the mid 19th century could have something to do with his opinion. Women during his era, projected chastity and innocence. Curleys wife seems anything but chaste and innocent. Upon meeting George and Lennie for the first time, she flirts shamelessly and her bold disposition is evident. She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward. Everything implies that she is unfaithful and unashamed. Her exchange with Lennie reveals why. In her first and last personal conversation shared with the readers, she discloses that she married Curley out of convenience and doesn t even like him. It was an opportunity to escape the authority of her mother, but instead led to another confining relationship. Her relations with other people are just one of her many downfalls. Another co...