Of Mice and Men

Chapter 5 Discussion
The characterization of CURLEYS WIFE is furthered through her death.
Curleys Wife is so desperate for attention that she appreciates Lennies company and starts
babbling away to him as he is the only one who will listen to her. Also, she knows that he will
not tell anyone what she says, that he may well not even understand her.
KEY QUOTE: And the meanness and the plannings and the discontent and the ache for
attention were all gone from her face. She was very pretty and simple, and her face was sweet
and young.
This quote above makes the reader suddenly see how she was a product of her circumstances,
that the meanness wasnt her true nature - she was deeply lonely and trapped. This leads the
reader to feel sympathy for her.
Lennies innocence is further emphasized in this chapter.
This seems ironic, as this is the chapter when Lennie actually commits murder. However,
even in the event, the reader sees that there is no malicious intent - the puppy incident
preempts this.
Lennie does what he does because of his innocent inability to comprehend the frailty of
others: the fact that he doesnt know his own strength and is incapable of understanding the
consequences of his actions. The reader has been prepared for this since the very first chapter,
when Lennie inadvertently kills the mouse.
Even George emphasizes Lennies innocence right after the event - Lennie did not do this out
of meanness. Because of his characterization up until this point, we as the reader are led to
agree.
The killing of Curleys wife is very much the CLIMAX of the plot.
So much of the action and events so far have been leading up to this event - the killing of
Curleys Wife. There have been lots of elements of foreshadowing, even within this chapter with
the killing of the puppy.
At the end of the chapter, the reader is left wondering how this will all resolve - but we are
sure it cant be good.
The reactions to Curleys wifes death furthers the theme of WOMEN and MISOGYNY (strongly
prejudiced against women).
In response to her death, nobody actually thinks about Curleys wife or mourns her death.
Lennie just thinks about how angry George will be; Candy is angry that it means the loss of their
dream; George is worried about the consequences for Lennie; and Curley, her own husband only
thinks about revenge.
In this way, it appears that Curleys wife is never really thought of as a human being, but as a
pawn or stumbling block: completely objectified. This further emphasizes the mens lack of
respect for women.
Candy actually goes so far as to blame Curleys wife for her own death - the classic
misogynistic victim blaming.
We see a dierent facet of the DREAM theme.

 Through her conversation with Lennie, we learn that Curleys wife also has a dream. Her
dream is so different to the mens, yet it is just as important to her.
Her dream was to be an actor and to be rich and famous; this speaks to her desire for
attention and affirmation. Yet her dreams and desires were also tragically unrealized.