Forced by her mother to give up her “American Dream” of becoming an actress, Curly’s wife lived on a ranch. With working men all around her, she battled with attention issues constantly. Lennie and George went to work on the ranch giving her some hope for entertainment. In the novel of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, a friendship is ended by the death of Curly’s wife. Curly’s wife constantly sought attention in childlike ways usually causing her greater pain in the end.
Curly’s wife used her trashy appearance as a way to draw men’s attention to her. As the men sat in the bunkhouse after a long day’s work, Curly’s wife came into the barn the men “[swung] their heads towards the door”. She used her female presence in a room full of men to get the attention she desired similar to a child crying if he doesn’t get what he wants. Although in present day she would be an average woman, she used makeup and suggestiveness to draw unnecessary attention to herself.
Although her trashy appearance was enough to turn heads, her wanton behavior also raised eyebrows. Being on the ranch full of men, it’s not hard to see who her target was. She had “no call for foolin’ around with other guys causing trouble.” Unlike a normal ranch wife who stayed in the house cooking and cleaning, Curly’s wife placed herself in places that weren’t appropriate to bring attention to herself and divert it away from the horses and cattle. She had no limits and used whatever she could, including her femininity, to draw attention to herself much like dangling candy in front of a child.
Appearing trashy and wanton, she tried to cover up her loneliness. Curly’s wife flared up “ sure I gotta husband,swell guy ain't he spends all his time saying what he gonna do to the guys he don’t like” She aspired for human companionship. She could have been very social, but she used her own regret of not being an actress as an excuse for her behavior. She often provoked unnecessary arguments with Curley, so the spotlight could be on her. “No one will talk to [her]” gave her an even better reason to seek attention in the ways she did. All she wanted was to be cared for and enjoy simple companionship.
Curly’s wife’s sleazy appearance and actions were the ways she thought she had to express herself to get the attention she desired. It was really a cover up for the loneliness that overwhelmed her. In the novel the author portrays Curly’s wife’s “American Dream” as being an actress, but it was really a cover up for her real dream which was simple happiness. There came a day when her overbearing need for companionship would be too much and cause an end to her life. She died never fully reaching her true “American Dream”.
