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This in-depth resource examines the character of Curley’s wife, focusing on how John Steinbeck presents gender inequality, power dynamics, and loneliness in 1930s America. Perfect for GCSE English Literature students, this resource provides essential contextual understanding and critical analysis to help students explore the role of Curley’s wife in the novel.

What’s Included?
Key Quotes
A selection of the most significant quotes linked to gender roles, isolation, and power.
Analysis of how Steinbeck uses language, structure, and dialogue to shape her character.
Historical Context:
The Role of Women in the 1930s – Expectations, limitations, and societal views.
Gender Inequality & The American Dream – How Curley’s wife’s aspirations reflect wider struggles.
The Impact of The Great Depression – How economic hardship affected women’s opportunities and independence.
Character Analysis – Curley’s Wife:
Her Marginalisation on the Ranch – Why she is unnamed and isolated.
Her Desire for Attention & Connection – How she seeks validation from the men.
Her Relationship with Curley – How Steinbeck portrays their marriage.
Her Vulnerability & Powerlessness – How her treatment reflects wider themes of oppression.
Key Themes Explored:
Loneliness & Isolation – Why Curley’s wife is one of the most isolated characters.
Power & Powerlessness – Her struggle between asserting control and being dismissed.
Dreams vs. Reality – Her Hollywood dream as a symbol of unattainable hope.
Gender Roles & Misogyny – How she is viewed and treated as an object rather than an individual.
Literary & Structural Techniques Covered:
Symbolism – How her red dress, soft hair, and position in the barn foreshadow events.
Dialogue & Language – How her speech reflects both her confidence and desperation.
Juxtaposition – Her dream of fame vs. her reality as Curley’s neglected wife.
Imagery & Setting – How Steinbeck uses her surroundings to emphasise her fate.