What does Curley represent?

2 years ago

3 minutes

Curley is symbolic of “small” people who may feel inferior and overcompensate by inflating or flaunting their power and status. Crooks is symbolic of people who are discriminated against because of their race. Candy is symbolic of people who are undervalued and discriminated against because of their age.

How does Curley represent 1930s America?

Steinbeck uses this portrayal of Curley to criticise the nature of American society and power in the 1930s- those who have power, like Curley, exert their power over others, perhaps who they secretly fear or perceive as weak, to get over their own personal convictions.

What does Curley’s hand symbolize?

Curley’s hands are mean and cruel and one, of course, is crushed in the machine that is Lennie; Curley’s hand that he keeps soft for his wife is a symbol of his impotence and inability to satisfy his wife sexually.

What does Curley’s wife represent?

Curley’s wife perfectly represents the “average woman” in America in the 1930s. She would like to depend less on her husband, she has a fantasy of becoming a renowned actress and she feels secluded and miserable.

Is Curley abusive to his wife?

Curly would abuse her, use her as bragging rights, and never spend time with his wife. Curley even had a glove filled with Vaseline so one of his hands could be soft for touching his wife. This is abusive because he talked about him and his wife’s sex life with the other ranchers.

How does Steinbeck present the character of Curley?

Steinbeck presents Curley as mean and violent throughout the novel. Strutting around the ranch in his ridiculous “high-heeled boots”, the antagonist is an “angry little man” who tries to prove his masculinity and assert his authority with his “handy” boxing skills, but the men view him with contempt.

How does Steinbeck present Curley as violent?

Steinbeck uses the phrase “tightly curled” to describe his hair, a description which aptly represents his personality too – a tightly coiled, volatile character who is always ready to spring into violent action. Curley’s speech is blunt and direct, even to characters like George and Lennie, whom he has yet to meet.

Why does Curley put Vaseline in his glove?

Curley wears a “glove fulla Vaseline” on one hand because, according to Candy, “he’s keepin’ that hand soft for his wife.” Since farm work is physical and tough on a person’s hands, the Vaseline will prevent at least one of Curley’s hands from becoming chapped and rough—something he clearly believes his wife would find …

Why is Curley’s name Curley?

Curley: Curley literally has curly hair. The meaning of the Old English name Curley is strong man. Steinbeck ironically chose the name Curley because Curley is strong in the ring but weak when it comes to Lennie. Whit: The name Whit means white or a small part.