Explore some of the ways Steinbeck presents good and bad characteristics of Curley's wife in Of Mice and Men.

The only woman in Steinbeck's novella, Curley's wife in Of Mice and Men is but a genitive of her husband. As such, she is less of an individual; in fact, some critics view her as an archetypal Eve

GOOD CHARACTERISTICS

• pretty, shapely


• sociable


• young

NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS

• flirtatious, seductive


• apparently naïve about consequences of her presence as the only woman on the ranch, but probably aware of this


• cruel to Crooks by her racial threats


• shallow in thoughts and desires


• "jail-bait" for the workers


• a temptress


• shallow, self-absorbed


• uneducated


• selfish, self-centered; she does not love Curley


• unhappy with her life and marriage


• lonely


• without real talent


• unrealistic


• conflict creator

Starting with her introduction into the narrative, Curley's wife seems a disruptive force to the fraternity of the men. George remarks that she is "jail-bait" because she is so young. Her youth causes her to push limitations by speaking playfully and imitating movie stars with her hair in "little rolled clusters" and her red fingernails, rouged lips and heavily made up eyes. In addition, she imitates the movements of the seductress: "She smiled archly and twitched her body." 
When she does not get attention, her demeanor changes. When Crooks prohibits her from entering, saying she has no right to enter "a colored man's room," for example, Curley's wife turns on him with racial slurs and threats:

"Listen, N****r....You know what I can do to you if you open your trap?"

Because she is uneducated and without any job or hobby, Curley's wife has nothing to occupy her time and mind. Therefore, she seeks attention outside herself. Her naïveté causes her to toy with Lennie as she does not understand that although Lennie is mentally-challenged and childlike in his enjoyment of puppies and keeping mice in his pocket, he can become aroused as easily as any man.