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   parkerlee Teacher
   

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   Curley's wife is unique in that she has no identity. She is just a pretty small town girl with dreams of "the big life" elsewhere. She longs for celebrity, to make a name for herself 'in pi'tures.' Then she would really live; she would exist.

   Of course she would have a first name in the story, but Steinbeck intentionally does not give her one. As an author he "creates" her this way. By simply calling her 'Curley's wife' he portrays her insignificance and social 'non-existence.' Curley can go whoop it up with the whores in town, but his wife must 'stay put' at home as a static object, much as a piece of furniture. She isn't even supposed to talk to the workers on the farm unless spoken to.

   Curley's wife is unique in that everyone else (on the farm and in the world) at least has a name.

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   Posted by parkerlee on Wednesday November 19, 2008 at 10:33 AM