How far do you blame Curley’s wife for what happens? Essay

There are lots of different pros and cons for this statement. Therefore I have started to take each character, Lennie and Curleys married woman separately and wherefore create a conclusion from the evidence.Curleys married woman seems to be a weak character in the novel, but however this is righteous the way she seems, and not the way she really is. This is because there is also a powerful side to her. Its similar to a split personality. The main ways in which Curleys wife is portrayed to be weak is that Steinbeck purposely gives her no name, therefore she has no status. Also, Curleys wife is portrayed as a powerful person. This is shown when men are frightened are frightened of her.This is due to all of the workers on the ranch seeing her as jailbait. Also Curleys wife likes to impose herself upon people, for example Lennie and Crooks. This is because she sees them as weak, and from that she evict hopefully get friendship and comfort, which is what she really wants. However, be cause of this she can also be seen as a troublemaker or sexy, which makes the men on the ranch, avoid her. The first side that Curleys wife shows, which to relates to what happens, is where she shows her sneakiness. This is shown belowCurleys wife came around the end of the last stall. She came very quietly, so that Lennie didnt see her.(Pg 84-85, lines 33-1)After Curleys wife had sneaked up on Lennie, she persisted in rebukeing to Lennie even after he said not to, and she repeatedly did so until he gave in. The reason that I think that Curleys wife did this was that she saw Lennie as an easy target, due to his child-like mental state. Also, the reason for Curleys wife wanting so desperately wanting to blab to someone, was that she was lonely and never had the opportunity to have a conversation with anyone. Therefore she knew that she would be able to let loose to Lennie due to him not fully understanding everything. This is shown in the quote belowShe said, What you got there, sonny boy? Lennie glared at her. George says I aint to have null to do with you talk to you or nothing.(Pg 85, lines 8-10)This quote above also shows the difference in power between Curleys wife and Lennie. It is the part of the quote where Curleys wife says sonny boy. This shows the power and dominance that Curleys wife possess over Lennie. This also comes through in order to get Lennie to talk to her.Then, after the above quote, Curleys wife even-tempered repeatedly continues to pursue her harassing of Lennie, whilst acting in a sympathetic way. She continues to do so, until Lennie gives in. This is shown belowWhy cant I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely.(Pg 85, lines 24-25)Lennie said, Well, I aint supposed to talk to you or nothing.I get lonely she said.(Pg 85, lines 26-27)This then results in Lennie talking to Curleys wife about what had happened to the puppy, even though it was against his will, as he was still reluctant about going against the wishes of George. This is shown belowHe was so little, said Lennie. I was jus playin with himan he made like hes gonna bite mean I made like I was gonna smack himan,,,an I done it. An then he was dead.(Pg86, lines 7-10)Here is Lennie talking to Curleys wife, about what had happened to the puppy, but he shows concerns over what George, would, think of them, and also most probably about the rabbits. The conversation then becomes closer, and Curleys wife starts to flirt, with Lennie, this confuses Lennie, as is easily done. Curleys wife gets Lennie to touch her hair, and he very much enjoys this, due to his fondness of feeling nice things. As a result of this, Lennie starts to stroke her hair harder and harder. This is at the same time as Curleys wife encouraging him to feel it more. Then, as a typical child would goes over the top. But she continues to encourage him, not knowing how hard he would contradict. This is shown belowSome people got kinda coarse hair, she said complacently . Take Curley. His hair is jus like wire. But mine is soft and fine. Course I brushwood it a lot. That makes it fine. Here feel right here. She took Lennies hand and placed it on her head. Feel right aroun there an see how soft it is.(Pg 89, lines 18-27)This then leads to frantic shouting from Curleys wife shouting for him to get off her hair. Lennie becomes frightened and as he cant handle the situation, like an large(p) would he holds on tight, for dear life. Then due to Curleys wifes frantic shouting and wriggling to get him off, Lennie becomes muddle up and confused. That is when Lennie becomes aggravated and kills her by breaking her neck. Lennie, I dont think would have purposely tried to kill her, he just held on too tight, and valued her to stop the shouting, yet he couldnt cope with the situation in hand. This is shown belowAnd she continued to struggle, and her eyes were wild with terror. He shook her then, and he was savage with her. Dont you go yellin, he said, and he shook her her body flopped like a fish. And then she was still, for Lennie had broken her neck.(Pg 90, lines 14-18)Now, I think that this could be partly Curleys wifes fault, as she knew that Curley doesnt like big/tall men, and therefore she knew that he would do anything to get one up on one, so I think that she would have known Curley would have gone for him, for dead. However, I also think that Curleys wife didnt expect for anything to happen, as it did. Also, at the end, when George shoots Lennie, I dont think that she would have thought that George would have shot him, for any particular reason.As a conclusion, I would institutionalize a lot of the blame of Lennies death upon Curleys wife. This is mainly because Curleys wife was adamant that she would have a conversation with Lennie, even though it wasnt what he wanted, as he told her to leave him alone several times, yet she did no such thing. Also Curleys wife was then flirtatious with Lennie, which would have given hi m a lot of mixed thoughts. I wouldnt put the whole blame upon Curleys wife because she didnt know how Lennie would react to the situation, and she was purely looking for friendship. This is because she felt alone.