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Sexualization In Of Mice And Men

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John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice and Men, takes place during the Great Depression in the 1930’s, in the Salinas Valley, California. It establishes the prospect of the American Dream, discrimination,loneliness, and disenfranchisement through its characters. George and Lennie provided the value of the American Dream, to which the leading female role, Curley’s wife, represents how women are exempt from the American Dream, and appeared as less than equal to men. She developed a form of loneliness throughout the course of the novel. The novella seeks to demonstrate the way of which life was like for the characters of all different statuses and backgrounds. Through Curley’s wife’s character, we are able to see how life was like for a women during …show more content…

Steinbeck quotes, “Jesus what a tramp.”, blatantly giving out the impression Curley’s wife had on the men and her role in the novella. She is commonly referred to by her looks. On page 51, Steinbeck quotes, “Well, stick around an’ keep your eyes open. You’ll see plenty”(51), that gives the recurring impression that she is subject to sexual objectification and only worthy of being known by her looks rather than who she is herself. Wherever Curley went on the ranch she was objectified for her “purty” looks and desperation for attention. Although in this sense she was more a prepotrater rather than a victim. Curley’s wife used her beauty to seek attention from the guys on the ranch, whether positive or negative. On page 31 these three segments, “ She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward... She bridled a little...She smiles archly and twitched her body.”(31), that show her as acceptently gaining the wanted attention from the men because of her body. On page 77, Steinbeck’s quotes, “Her face was heavily made up.”(77), the definition of beauty within the text. It’s implied that makeup makes a women beautiful, not what is underneath. The other women in the text fulfill the sexual pleasure position of women. Old Susy's place is a well known common place for the guys on the ranch for the “girls”, drinks, and …show more content…

Each set of characters presented a new theme to give meaning to the book. Curleys wife presented sexism and how gender played a role in who will get to experience and hold the American Dream. She also gave the awareness of how women were continuously dehumanized and viewed as less than equal to men during that time. Steinbeck was inspired to write Of Mice and Men, from his childhood experiences and observations of immigrants moving from ranch to ranch in search of jobs. This gives a representation of how he believe the American Dream was unattainable. Steinbeck explored the nature and lives of the people during that time and connected that to the characters in the novella which set the stage for the

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