Curley’s Wife

1. Curley’s Wife

2. Why ‘Of Mice and Men’ Matters... • NOW: • Reading controlled assessment – 30 marks available! Potential to completely change the grade on your folder! • SUMMER OF YR 11: • One of the two novels for your LITERATURE EXAM

3. Year 10 Controlled Assessment Question 2013 How is she introduced? What words does he use to describe her? What do we think of her at the end? The author • TASK • How does Steinbeck present Curley’s wife in the novel: Of Mice and Men? Make sure you write mostly about her Formal word you should use for a story book

4. Year 11 Controlled Assessment Question 2013 How is she introduced? What words do the ranch workers use to describe her? What is their opinion of her What does she think of them? The author • TASK • How does Steinbeck present relationships between Curley’s wife and the ranch workers in the novel: Of Mice and Men? Formal word you should use for a story book Make sure you write mostly about her and how she interacts with the MEN on the ranch

5. Really, really important... • Remember this is a FICTION novel (it’s all made up) – do not write about the characters as if they are real people. • As a reader, what you think and feel about each character and their relationship with one another is because that’s EXACTLY what John Steinbeck (the author) wanted you to think and feel about them. He deliberately set the book out in this way and used certain words to make you think and feel as you do. • Therefore you will need to write about HOW and WHY you think John Steinbeck presented/showed Curley’s wife and her relationships as he did.

6. You will have 4 hours to complete the actual assessment What will I get marks for? • Writing about... • Understanding – show that you understand what happened in the novel and give reasons why you think this. • Steinbeck’s intentions: explain why you think he wrote about Curley’s wife in this way. What was the point he was trying to make about her? E.g. We only ever know her as Curley’s wife – she is never given a name – why? • Structure: how she and her relationships are presented at the start, what she is/they are like in the middle, what we think about her/the relationships are at the end. • Language: what words and sentences does Steinbeck use to show this? Similes, italics, adjectives, adverbs, use of light and dark, dialogue between characters... AND WHY?

7. CWK LO: to develop our understanding of Curley’s wife? Who is Curley’s Wife? Grade Booster Steinbeck never provides a name for Curley’s wife and instead uses a possessive apostrophe to indicate she belongs to her husband. Starter? how do this affect our response to her? She is the young, attractive newly married wife of Curley, the Boss’s son.

8. What does she do in the novel? • She makes Curley jealous by flirting with the ranch hands. • She creates tension in the bunk house. • She talks about loneliness and dreams. • She is killed by Lennie, and is therefore the reason that George has to shoot him. T often app These are both key themes in the novel and often appear in exam questions

9. Revision – How do the following images connect to Curley’s wife?

10. Context: How do these statements impact on Curley’s wife?

11. Steinbeck’s attitude to the character We know more about Steinbeck’s feelings towards Curley’s wife than about any other character. In the famous “Miss Luce” letter he wrote the actress playing the character on stage and explained how he saw the character. He says she is essentially a good and trusting person who grew up in ”an atmosphere of fighting and suspicion”. Her pretence of hardness is a sham but it is all that she knows. She is not particularly over sexed, but has been forced to recognise that her sexuality is the only weapon she has, and the only thing that gets her noticed.

12. The letter from John Steinbeck To Claire Luce Los Gatos [1938] Dear Miss Luce: Annie Laurie says you are worried about your playing of the part of Curley’s wife although from the reviews it appears that you are playing it marvelously. I am deeply grateful to you and to the others in the cast for your feeling about the play. You have surely made it much more than it was by such a feeling. About the girl--I don’t know of course what you think about her, but perhaps if I should tell you a little about her as I know her, it might clear your feeling about her. She grew up in an atmosphere of fighting and suspicion. Quite early she learned that she must never trust any one but she was never able to carry out what she learned. A natural trustfulness broke through constantly and every time it did, she got her. her moral training was most rigid. She was told over and over that she must remain a virgin because that was the only way she could get a husband. This was harped on so often that it became a fixation. It would have been impossible to seduce her. She had only that one thing to sell and she knew it. Now, she was trained by threat not only at home but by other kids. And any show of fear or weakness brought an instant persecution. She learned to be hard to cover her fright. And automatically she became hardest when she was most frightened. She is a night, kind girl, not a floozy. No man has ever considered her as anything except a girl to try to make. She has never talked to a man except in the sexual fencing conversation. she is not highly sexed particularly but knows instinctively that if she is to be noticed at all, it will be because some one finds her sexually desirable. As to her actual sexual life--she has had none except with Curley and there has probably been no consummation there since Curley would not consider her gratification and would probably be suspicious if she had any. Consequently she is a little starved. She knows utterly nothing about sex except the mass misinformation girls tell one another. If anyone--a man or woman--ever gave her a break--treated her like a person--she would be a slave to that person. Her craving for contact is immense but she, with her background, is incapable of conceiving any contact without some sexual context. With all this--if you knew her, if you could ever break down a thousand little defenses she has built up, you would find a nice person, an honest person, and you would end up by loving her. But such a thing could never happen. I hope you won’t think I’m preaching. I’ve known this girl and I’m just trying to tell you what she is like. She is afraid of everyone in the world. You’ve known girls like that, haven’t you? You can see them in Central Park on a hot night. They travel in groups for protection. They pretend to be wise and hard and voluptuous. I have a feeling that you know all this and that you are doing all this. Please forgive me if I seem to intrude on your job. I don’t intend to and I am only writing this because Annie Laurie said you wondered about the girl. It’s a devil of a hard part. I am very happy that you have it. Sincerely, John Steinbeck

13. What are the connotations of the following names she is given?What does Steinbeck want you to think of her? Curley’s wife A Tramp/Tart (Candy) A girl Jailbait (George) Purty (Lennie)

14. Before we meet Curley’s wifePage 29 “Yeah. Purty . . . . but—” George studied his cards. “But what?” “Well—she got the eye.” “Yeah? Married two weeks and got the eye? Maybe that’s why Curley’s pants is full of ants.” “I seen her give Slim the eye. Slim’s a jerkline skinner. Hell of a nice fella. Slim don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team. I seen her give Slim the eye. Curley never seen it. An’ I seen her give Carlson the eye.” George pretended a lack of interest. “Looks like we was gonna have fun.” The swamper stood up from his box. “Know what I think?” George did not answer. “Well, I think Curley’s married . . . . a tart.” Annotate any keywords in the text. How does Steinbeck want us to see Curley’s wife from Candy’s words? Are we prejudiced against her before we even meet her? Why do you think this?

15. How does Steinbeck use language to convey the character of Curley’s Wife? First Impressions pg 32-33 Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off. A girl was standing there looking in. She had full, rouged lips and widespaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers. “I’m lookin’ for Curley,” she said. Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality. George looked away from her and then back. “He was in here a minute ago, but he went.” “Oh!” She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward. “You’re the new fellas that just come, ain’tya?” “Yeah.” Lennie’s eyes moved down over her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennie she bridled a little. She looked at her fingernails. “Sometimes Curley’s in here,” she explained. George said brusquely. “Well he ain’t now.” “If he ain’t, I guess I better look some place else,” she said playfully. Lennie watched her, fascinated. George said, “If I see him, I’ll pass the word you was looking for him.”

16. Why does Steinbeck ‘cut off’ the sun when she enters? What is suggested about her from her appearance? Does it sound like someone living on a ranch? Why does she wear glamorous clothes and make-up (overdressed)? Both men glanced up, for the rectangle of sunshine in the doorway was cut off. A girl was standing there looking in. She had full, rouged lips and widespaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers. “I’m lookin’ for Curley,” she said. Her voice had a nasal, brittle quality. George looked away from her and then back. “He was in here a minute ago, but he went.” “Oh!” She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward. “You’re the new fellasthat just come, ain’tya?” “Yeah.” Lennie’s eyes moved down over her body, and though she did not seem to be looking at Lennieshe bridled a little. She looked at her fingernails. “Sometimes Curley’s in here,” she explained. George said brusquely. “Well he ain’t now.” “If he ain’t, I guess I better look some place else,” she said playfully. Lennie watched her, fascinated. George said, “If I see him, I’ll pass the word you was looking for him.” Why has Steinbeck used this simile and these adjectives? Attractive? What is suggested about her by her behaviour? How does Steinbeck use language to convey the character of Curley’s Wife? Think about: Adjectives about her appearance Verbs and adverbs Does Steinbeck reinforce Candy’s negative opinion of her by his description?

17. Why does George condemn her as soon as she leaves? What does Lennie think of her? How does this section link to the ending of the novel? Page 33-34 George looked around at Lennie. “Jesus, what a tramp,” he said. “So that’s what Curley picks for a wife.” “She’s purty,” said Lennie defensively. “Yeah, and she’s sure hidin’ it. Curley got his work ahead of him. Bet she’d clear out for twenty bucks.” Lenniestill stared at the doorway where she had been. “Gosh, she was purty.” He smiled admiringly. George looked quickly down at him and then he took him by an ear and shook him. “Listen to me, you crazy bastard,” he said fiercely. “Don’t you even take a look at that bitch. I don’t care what she says and what she does. I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her. You leave her be.” Lennie tried to disengage his ear. “I never done nothing, George.” “No, you never. But when she was standin’ in the doorway showin’ her legs, you wasn’t lookin’ the other way, neither.” “I never meant no harm, George. Honest I never.” “Well, you keep away from her, cause she’s a rattrap if I ever seen one. You let Curley take the rap. He let himself in for it. Glove fullavaseline,” George said disgustedly. “An’ I bet he’s eatin’ raw eggs and writin’ to the patent medicine houses.” Lennie cried out suddenly—“I don’t like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outa here.”

18. George looked around at Lennie. “Jesus, what a tramp,” he said. “So that’s what Curley picks for a wife.” “She’s purty,” said Lennie defensively. “Yeah, and she’s sure hidin’ it. Curley got his work ahead of him. Bet she’d clear out for twenty bucks.” Lenniestill stared at the doorway where she had been. “Gosh, she was purty.” He smiled admiringly. George looked quickly down at him and then he took him by an ear and shook him. “Listen to me, you crazy bastard,” he said fiercely. “Don’t you even take a look at that bitch. I don’t care what she says and what she does. I seen ‘em poison before, but I never seen no piece of jail bait worse than her. You leave her be.” Lennie tried to disengage his ear. “I never done nothing, George.” “No, you never. But when she was standin’ in the doorway showin’ her legs, you wasn’t lookin’ the other way, neither.” “I never meant no harm, George. Honest I never.” “Well, you keep away from her, cause she’s a rattrap if I ever seen one. You let Curley take the rap. He let himself in for it. Glove fullavaseline,” George said disgustedly. “An’ I bet he’s eatin’ raw eggs and writin’ to the patent medicine houses.” Lennie cried out suddenly—“I don’t like this place, George. This ain’t no good place. I wanna get outa here.” George recognises immediately that she is trouble. Lennie seems to connect with her. He is the only man that likes her and does not see her as a problem/nuisance. George warns Lennie how dangerous he thinks she can be. Prediction of how she will become the catalyst for everyone’s downfall Lennie’s heartfelt plea tragically predicts the end of the novel.

19. Key Quotes - Chapter 4 – The worst of Curley’s wife pg 76... Under each quote: Summarise what it tells us about her. Analyse some of the words Steinbeck has used to make you think this. “She stood still in the doorway, smiling a little at them, rubbing the nails of one hand with the thumb and forefinger of the other. And her eyes travelled from one face to another. “They left all the weak ones here,” she said finally.” “She regarded them amusedly. “Funny thing,” she said. “If I catch any oneman, and he’s alone, I get along fine with him...” “ She was breathless with indignation. “—Saturday night. Ever’body out doin’ somethin’. Ever’body! An’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talkin’ to a bunch of bindle stiffs—a nigger an’ a dum-dum and a lousy ol’ sheep—an’ likin’ it because they ain’t nobody else.”

20. Key Quotes - Chapter 4 “She looked from one face to another, and they were all closed against her. And she looked longest at Lennie, until he dropped his eyes in embarrassment” “She turned on him in scorn. “Listen, Nigger,” she said. “You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?” Crooks stared hopelessly at her, and then he sat down on his bunk and drew into himself” “She turned to Lennie. “I’m glad you bust up Curley a little bit. He got it comin’ to him. Sometimes I’d like to bust him myself.” She slipped out the door and disappeared into the dark barn.”

21. In the Barn Pg 84 Starter: What does these few lines really tell you about Curley’s wife? What other character’s life is similar to her based on these lines? Did Steinbeck do this deliberately? “I get lonely,” she said. “You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but Curley. Else he gets mad. How’d you like not to talk to anybody?” Lennie said, “Well, I ain’t supposed to. George’s scared I’ll get in trouble.”

22. Steinbeck’s portrayal of Curley’s wife's DreamWhat do learn about her life before Curley and her dreams?What do we learn about her life now? Pg 87 “Aw, nuts!” she said. “What kinda harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself.” She said darkly, “Maybe I will yet.” And then her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away. “I lived right in Salinas,” she said. “Come there when I was a kid. Well, a show come through, an’ I met one of the actors. He says I could go with that show. But my ol’ lady wouldn’t let me. She says because I was on’y fifteen. But the guy says I coulda. If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet.” Lennie stroked the pup back and forth. “We gonna have a little place—an’rabbits,” he explained. She went on with her story quickly, before she could be interrupted. “’Nother time I met a guy, an’ he was in pitchers. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.” She looked closely at Lennie to see whether she was impressing him. “I never got that letter,” she said. “I always thought my ol’ lady stole it. Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ where they stole your letters, I ast her if she stole it, too, an’ she says no. So I married Curley. Met him out to the Riverside Dance Palace that same night.”She demanded, “You listenin’?” “Me? Sure.” “Well, I ain’t told this to nobody before. Maybe I oughten to. I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.”

23. Steinbeck’s portrayal of Curley’s wife's DreamWhat do learn about her life before Curley and her dreams?What do we learn about her life now? She’s unhappy living on a ranch with Curley. She thinks she’s better than this. “Aw, nuts!” she said. “What kinda harm am I doin’ to you? Seems like they ain’t none of them cares how I gotta live. I tell you I ain’t used to livin’ like this. I coulda made somethin’ of myself.” She said darkly, “Maybe I will yet.” And then her words tumbled out in a passion of communication, as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away. “I lived right in Salinas,” she said. “Come there when I was a kid. Well, a show come through, an’ I met one of the actors. He says I could go with that show. But my ol’ lady wouldn’t let me. She says because I was on’y fifteen. But the guy says I coulda. If I’d went, I wouldn’t be livin’ like this, you bet.” Lennie stroked the pup back and forth. “We gonna have a little place—an’rabbits,” he explained. She went on with her story quickly, before she could be interrupted. “’Nother time I met a guy, an’ he was in pitchers. Went out to the Riverside Dance Palace with him. He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a natural. Soon’s he got back to Hollywood he was gonna write to me about it.” She looked closely at Lennie to see whether she was impressing him. “I never got that letter,” she said. “I always thought my ol’ lady stole it.Well, I wasn’t gonna stay no place where I couldn’t get nowhere or make something of myself, an’ where they stole your letters, I ast her if she stole it, too, an’ she says no. So I married Curley. Met him out to the Riverside Dance Palace that same night.”She demanded, “You listenin’?” “Me? Sure.” “Well, I ain’t told this to nobody before. Maybe I oughten to. I don’ like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella.” Gullible (believes what men tell her). Wants to believe in her dream. Steinbeck is sympathetic towards her. Her dreams are more hopeless than George and Lennie’s dream of land. Married Curley out of spite as she thought her mom was holding her back. Steinbeck reveals her unhappiness. Admits possibly that she made a mistake and regrets marrying Curley, who isn’t a good husband to her. She uses the words ‘like’ and not ‘love’ (what you expect from a new wife)

24. Curley’s Wife’s Death Pg 90-91 Curley’s wife laughed at him. “You’re nuts,” she said. “But you’re a kind of nice fella. Jus’ like a big baby. But a person can see kinda what you mean. When I’m doin’ my hair sometimes I jus’ set an’ stroke it ‘cause it’s so soft.” Curley’s wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. He (Candy) looked helplessly back at Curley’s wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. “You God damn tramp”, he said viciously. “You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’bodyknowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” He sniveled, and his voice shook. How does Steinbeck show her just before she is killed? How does he portray in death? Does her death change the men’s opinion of her?

25. Her Death Just before her death, Steinbeck shows her being kind to Lennie. She compares him to baby (innocent/vulnerable) and lets him stroke her hair. She is shown as being similar to Lennie – gets comfort from stroking soft things. • Curley’s wife laughed at him. “You’re nuts,” she said. “But you’re a kind of nice fella. Jus’ like a big baby. But a person can see kinda what you mean. When I’m doin’ my hair sometimes I jus’ set an’ stroke it ‘cause it’s so soft.” Curley’s wife lay with a half-covering of yellow hay. And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet and young. Now her rouged cheeks and her reddened lips made her seem alive and sleeping very lightly. The curls, tiny little sausages, were spread on the hay behind her head, and her lips were parted. He (Candy) looked helplessly back at Curley’s wife, and gradually his sorrow and his anger grew into words. “You God damn tramp”, he said viciously. “You done it, di’n’t you? I s’pose you’re glad. Ever’bodyknowed you’d mess things up. You wasn’t no good. You ain’t no good now, you lousy tart.” He sniveled, and his voice shook. All negative aspects of her character disappear so that the reader sympathises with her as a victim. She is never really evil. Her punishment outweighs any crime she has committed. Steinbeck uses the word s ‘sweet’ and ‘simple’ to show how much she has changed in death. He has used the colour red to now make her look pretty instead of for danger (compared to start of the novel). However, Steinbeck shows that even in death, the men fail to sympathise with her and still see her a troublemaker who has got her own way. Unfair?

26. Sentence Starters To Help • Marking: • Clear evidence of understanding of the text (POINTS) • Ability to explain writers’ ideas clearly, offering relevant details (QUOTES) • Ability to display understanding of the features of language. (EXPLAIN/ANALYSE WORDS/SENTENCES/STRUCTURE) • INTRODUCTION • ‘Of Mice and Men’ novel 1930’s California, America, ranch hands, Lennie & George. Theme of novel: American Dream, loneliness, friendship. • Introduce Curley’s wife - BELONGS TO CURLEY – no name • Steinbeck was influenced by what life was like for women in America in the 1930’s because... • Steinbeck wanted the reader to know how women were treated in 1930’s America... • Steinbeck presents Curley’s wife as... • Steinbeck uses the word/sentence ... as connotations of the word are... • Steinbeck suggests • This word/sentence suggests to the reader that... • The reader is made to feel prejudiced against her when... • Steinbeck shows sympathy towards Curley’s wife when • Steinbeck wants the reader to think... • Steinbeck wants the reader to feel... • As the novel progresses, such as when she is the barn with ..., Steinbeck makes the reader think/feel... • As the story continues, ...

27. Extended Reading Mark Scheme Look at the mark scheme provided and annotate relevant phrases.

28. Mark Scheme – Grade C

29. Mark Scheme – Grade C The first thing I notice about Crooks is that he lives in the harness room away from the other men. He has a whole variety of things in this space and the quote is “There was cans of saddle soap and a drippy can of tar with its paintbrush sticking over the edge?” this shows that he is put in the same place as the general tools that are used on the ranch. Task: How would you change this section to make it into a B grade?

30. Mark Scheme – Grade A In the opening description of Crooks’ room Steinbeck indicates that “for being alone, Crooks could leave his things about, and being a stable buck and a cripple, he was more permanent than the other men.” This reference is perhaps surprising to the reader as it presents his environment in a positive light with a clear emphasis on the fact he has a sense of stability on the ranch and does not have to worry about the theft of his possessions. However this could be seen as the only positive to come out of the isolated existence he is forced to live.