Has anybody read "Of Mice And Men?

Can you proof read my essay on Of Mice And Men.?

• the title is, the exploration of Curleys wife. John Steinbeck’s novel Of Mice and Men is an example of what life was like in the current situation of America, adding a touch of realism to the story. All of the characters lead a typical 1930’s lifestyle, where they all have the same dream, ‘The American Dream’. However not everyone appears to accomplish it. Steinbeck shows examples of racism, loneliness and heroic friendship. Curley’s wife in Steinbeck’s novel, is an example of how the readers perception of a character can change without the character actually changing. Curley’s wife is first mentioned in chapter 2, where Candy who is one of the older ranch workers, informs Lennie and George who are new to the ranch, of his opinion towards her. Candy uses expressions about Curley’s wife, such as ‘’she got the eye’’, ‘’she only been married two weeks’’, ’’unloyal’’ and carries on to describe her as looking at other men, before eventually calling her a ‘’tart’’. Candy reacts this way towards her because he feels he is being intimidated by her ‘flirtatious’ behaviour. Throughout Candy’s words, the reader develops an initial perception of Curley’s wife as flirtatious and even the femme fatale. Candy’s assumption is later emphasized further into chapter 2 when Curley’s wife makes her first appearance. ‘’Heavily made up’’ this suggests that she is out of place for a typical day on the ranch. ‘’Her hair hung like sausages’’ Steinbeck uses this comic term to highlight the fact she is trying to hard to be ‘glamorous’, however her image doesn’t fit with her lifestyle which leads to her look absurd. ‘’Her body was thrown forward’’, her proactive body language suggest she is acting as though she is an actress and the men are her audience. The reader can infer that from her dress and appearance she is not living the lifestyle she wants and aspires to be a ‘sexy’, ‘glamorous’ figure that men crave. However the men do not respect her, as they refer to her as ‘a tramp’ which suggests she has low status perhaps because she is the only women. Steinbeck has shown that Curley’s wife has an American Dream, although she does not seem to be leading it. Candy’s earlier description in the story, seems accurate after her first appearance. The readers negative feelings towards Curley’s wife began to change however, when she enters Crooks’, a ***** workers barn, where he appears talking to Lennie and Candy in chapter 4. Steinbeck uses this opportunity to show the readers that these characters are the ‘odd ones out’ or the ‘weak’ as Curley’s wife ironically describes them. She firsts enters claiming she is looking for Curley, but after icy responses from the men she suddenly reveals her loneliness and her desire to live her own life.

• Answer:

  In the first paragraph you don't need a comma after 'Steinbeck's novel, is an example' take away the comma here. In the last chapter, try talking about how she says something along the lines of 'I could get you strung up on a tree so easily it ain't even funny' which totally demolishes the reader's slight sympathy towards her at this point. Maybe look at the chapter she is killed also where she says she hates Curley and gets 'awful lonely' and explains her dream of being in the 'pichers'. If you're in the UK I'm assuming this is for GCSE. Try look into the language and the word associations, such as her rouged lips and her very red features in chapter 2. It shows lust and flirtation, red is also a warning and shows danger, which she is. This is totally juxtaposed (contrasted) in the chapter she is killed as it makes her look alive, that's also quite ironic as she tried so hard. Also the sausages make the reader think of greasy meat, a) her hair could be greasy b) she's just a slab of meat waiting to be used and thrown away, discarded or fed to an animal. (eg. cheat). I'd also say Curley's Wife's dream is less of an American Dream as she would not have to work hard for it, maybe this shows she is less significant in that way.