Curley's
wife is the only woman on the ranch and is defined by her role as Curley's possession. Curley's
wife is one of the loneliest individuals on the farm and suffers from discrimination. The
workers on the farm purposely go out of their way to avoid Curley's wife and refer to her as
"jail bait" and a "tart." They believe that she wears too much makeup,
dresses like a "whore," and openly flirts with them, which threatens to put their jobs
in jeopardy. Curley's wife is not welcome in the bunkhouse, is excluded from the games the
workers play, and is isolated from everyone else on the farm. Her husband is an authoritative,
insecure man who desires to keep her nearby at all times to prevent her from cheating on
him.
Curley's wife also lacks agency and is not free to roam throughout the
ranch or leave the farm like the men. In , the healthy, younger workers head into town, while
Curley's wife is forced to stay behind with Candy, Crooks, and , who are the weakest members on
the farm. Even among the group of outcasts, Curley's wife is still discriminated against. She is
asked several times to leave Crooks's room, and they refuse to listen to her speak. The only
thing Curley's wife can do is lament about her missed opportunity to enter show business and
leave Soledad. Overall, Curley's wife is discriminated against because she is unfairly called
derogatory names, is purposely excluded from conversations and activities, and lives under the
oppressive influence of her pugnacious husband.
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