Curley’s wife

Curley’s wife being seductive and wanting to exploit her sexuality

Curley’s wife being seductive and wanting to exploit her sexuality

“Leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward”

Foreshadowing CW’s danger

“Full rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. He finger nails were red… cotton house dress and red mules”

CW’s as abusing her authority because she doesn’t have any

“Well, know your place then [N]. I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it ain’t even funny”

Being abused by Curley

“I don’t like Curley”

Desperation at death (similar to when Curley broke his arm)

“Her body flopped like a fish”

CW no longer in pain for attention

“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.”

Steinbeck’s letter to Claire Luce (why CW isn’t actually promiscuous)

“She was told over and over that she must remain a virgin because that was the only way that she could get a husband. It would have been impossible to seduce her. She had only one thing to sell and she knew it.”

Letter to Claire Luce (CW is actually a kind girl)

“If you could ever break down a thousand of little defenses she has built up, you would find a nice person, an honest person, and you would end up loving her. But such a thing could never happen.”