👩 Curley’s Wife
"She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily
made up."
Steinbeck describes her like an object or doll, emphasizing her
appearance over personality — suggests loneliness,
superficial attention, and vulnerability.
"I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely."
Reveals her deep isolation on the ranch. She’s trapped in a life
where she’s seen as property, not a person.
"Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta
live."
Shows her lack of agency. She's ignored, judged, and
dismissed — a product of sexism in 1930s America.
"You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but
Curley. Else he gets mad."
Highlights how she's controlled and possessively owned by
Curley — suggests emotional abuse and control.
"He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a
natural."
Her broken dream mirrors George and Lennie’s. She’s
chasing an escape from her dead-end life — just like the men.
"I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even
funny."
Moment of racial power over Crooks — shows she’s also
capable of cruelty when she feels threatened. Shows the
hierarchy of oppression.
, "Her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still."
A simile that dehumanizes her in death — continues the
theme of objectification, even in her final moment.
"She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet
and young."
Steinbeck shifts tone after her death — shows her innocence
and lost potential, creating sympathy.
"Jailbait" / "a tart"
Misogynistic slang — she’s judged solely by her looks. They
fear her because of what she represents, not who she is.
"I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella."
Suggests she’s trapped in a loveless marriage, reinforcing her
need for attention and her desperation.
"She’s purty." (George, early in the novella)
Even George, who’s more sensible, reduces her to her
appearance — shows how objectification is normalised.
"Jesus, what a tramp."
Harsh judgment — quick character assassination based on
appearance and assumptions.
🧔 George
"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys
in the world."
Introduces the theme of isolation. George understands the
harshness of life for itinerant workers.
"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got
somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us."
"She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily
made up."
Steinbeck describes her like an object or doll, emphasizing her
appearance over personality — suggests loneliness,
superficial attention, and vulnerability.
"I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely."
Reveals her deep isolation on the ranch. She’s trapped in a life
where she’s seen as property, not a person.
"Seems like they ain't none of them cares how I gotta
live."
Shows her lack of agency. She's ignored, judged, and
dismissed — a product of sexism in 1930s America.
"You can talk to people, but I can’t talk to nobody but
Curley. Else he gets mad."
Highlights how she's controlled and possessively owned by
Curley — suggests emotional abuse and control.
"He says he was gonna put me in the movies. Says I was a
natural."
Her broken dream mirrors George and Lennie’s. She’s
chasing an escape from her dead-end life — just like the men.
"I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain't even
funny."
Moment of racial power over Crooks — shows she’s also
capable of cruelty when she feels threatened. Shows the
hierarchy of oppression.
, "Her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still."
A simile that dehumanizes her in death — continues the
theme of objectification, even in her final moment.
"She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet
and young."
Steinbeck shifts tone after her death — shows her innocence
and lost potential, creating sympathy.
"Jailbait" / "a tart"
Misogynistic slang — she’s judged solely by her looks. They
fear her because of what she represents, not who she is.
"I don’t like Curley. He ain’t a nice fella."
Suggests she’s trapped in a loveless marriage, reinforcing her
need for attention and her desperation.
"She’s purty." (George, early in the novella)
Even George, who’s more sensible, reduces her to her
appearance — shows how objectification is normalised.
"Jesus, what a tramp."
Harsh judgment — quick character assassination based on
appearance and assumptions.
🧔 George
"Guys like us, that work on ranches, are the loneliest guys
in the world."
Introduces the theme of isolation. George understands the
harshness of life for itinerant workers.
"With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got
somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us."
