Of Mice and Men Group

Question:

sloch
sloch
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Why doesn't the author give Curley's wife a name?

From the book Of Mice and Men By John Steinbeck.

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Posted by sloch on Thursday October 11, 2007 at 9:55 AM and tagged with curleys wife, of mice and men.

Answers:


  1. jamie-wheeler Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    Steinbeck does not give her a name because he wants to reflect her complete lack of individual indentity.  In Curley's eyes, and therefore in all the eyes of the hands, save Lennie, the woman is just another piece of the boss's property. 

    Sources:
    http:/www.enotes.com/of-mice/

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    Posted by jamie-wheeler on Thursday October 11, 2007 at 9:58 AM


  2. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In many books, static characters like Curly's wife often are never blessed with their own names.  They help move the plot forward, but they don't change themselves.  They serve a purpose in the story, but in themselves they are unimportant.  Curly's wife, like the puppy, only serve to show Lennie's character in that he likes soft things and needs to touch them, but when they recoil or reject him, he underestimates his own strength as he restrains them. 

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    Posted by amy-lepore on Thursday October 11, 2007 at 3:51 PM

  3. tvillaverde
    tvillaverde Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Although Curley's wife may be considered static, she does not change throughout the novella: Curley's wife is essential to the plot. therefore,she is not simply "unnamed" because she is insignificant.

     Curley's wife is unnamed for several reasons.  She is first and for most not worthy of a name.  a name implies that a relationship can exist.  Curley's wife is not capable of a relationship; she is not worthy.  with a name also comes identification and familiarity. If we were to feel any sort of empathy for Curley's wife, we may not understand or appreciate Lennie's role in her death.  We may actually care that she is dead. 

    There is also the historical role of women in society.  As a writer of social issues, Steinbeck wants the reader to recognize the inferior role of women in the world.  The lack of name demotes Curley's wife to insignificant status.  She is not as important as the men in the story. 

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    Posted by tvillaverde on Thursday October 25, 2007 at 6:28 PM

  4. ita4nlo
    ita4nlo Student
    High School - 10th Grade

    curleys wife doesnt hasve a name as curley dosent think she should have one as she is married to him so she should have his name so everyone knows that she is his wife

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    Posted by ita4nlo on Monday November 5, 2007 at 10:24 AM

  5. devilbatdive
    devilbatdive Student
    High School - 9th Grade

    It's been years since you asked this question, but oh well. The reason that she doesn't have a name is because she is presented as a possession of Curley's. There was one point where she says 'They left the weak behind.' She was talking about Crooks, Lennie, and Candy, who were all 'weak' in their respective ways. But there was irony because she wasn't even considered a real person but a possession.

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    Posted by devilbatdive on Monday November 2, 2009 at 8:54 PM