Curley's wife has quite a sordid reputation. She's regarded by other characters in the story as being what used to be called a woman of low morals. They call her all kinds of unpleasant names such as "jailbait" and "tart." At the very least, she's possessed with an exceptionally strong, overpowering sexuality; and she knows this, using her attractiveness to get men to do what she wants. At various points in the story, she proves...
Curley's wife has quite a sordid reputation. She's regarded by other characters in the story as being what used to be called a woman of low morals. They call her all kinds of unpleasant names such as "jailbait" and "tart." At the very least, she's possessed with an exceptionally strong, overpowering sexuality; and she knows this, using her attractiveness to get men to do what she wants. At various points in the story, she proves herself to be a liar--a mean, cunning manipulator, someone not to be trusted.
And in the case of Curley's wife, sex goes hand in hand with power. As wife of the boss' son she enjoys a position of authority on the ranch, which she bolsters with her raunchy demeanor. She abuses her power by threatening to have Crooks, the only African-African on the ranch, lynched, a way of putting him "in his place." Because she has such a dire reputation, Curley's wife clings to her racial privilege as the only thing that can still command respect.
But like just about everyone else in the story, Curley's wife has dreams of a better life away from the ranch. She dreams of movie stardom, something she could realistically achieve with her incredible good looks and charm. Although this makes Curley's wife somewhat a much more rounded character, more human, it doesn't detract from a sordid reputation that appears richly deserved.
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