Curley

Question 1

Social vs economic hierarchy

Answer 1

• Slim is contrasted with Curley, who has authority over the other workers due to his status as the boss’s son but struggles to earn their respect.
• For instance, while Curley wears “high-heeled boots” to make up for his short stature and remind the workers of his wealth and status,
• Candy explains pointedly that Slim “don’t need to wear no high-heeled boots on a grain team.”
• Unlike aggressive and cruel Curley, Slim is a source of moral authority in the novella.
• He correctly sees that Lennie “ain’t mean,” and later the reader learns that he is one of the only men to ignore the racist prohibition against entering Crooks’s room.
• Slim is also the only one to rightly understand that George kills Lennie out of mercy, and comforts George in his resulting misery.
• The contrast between Slim and Curley serves to suggest that the economic power of Curley and his father is artificial, a violation of the natural order in which Slim ought to rank highest.

Question 2

Insecure

Answer 2

• “He’s alla time picking scraps with big guys.”
• Curley is a short guy, but he is in a strong position.
• Therefore, he shows off his power by targeting the bigger, yet ironically weaker men.

Question 3

Fragile masculinity

Answer 3

• Another way to prove himself is by marrying a physically attractive woman.
• His wife is never given a name, but by calling her “Curley’s wife,” Steinbeck indicates she is his possession.
• Curley refuses to let her talk to anyone on the ranch, isolating her from everyone and setting the stage for trouble.
• He makes a big show of keeping his hand soft to caress her, yet patronizes the local whorehouse on Saturday night.
• While he may strut around the ranch because of his position as the boss’ son, he obviously cannot satisfy his wife and is mean to her.
• therefore he feels immensely insecure about his wife having an affair because he knows that their marriage holds no cerebral value
• “‘Curley jumped out of the door and banged it after him.” “I’ll try to catch him,”
• Curley beats up any man who dares to talk to her; the only one he listens to and seems to respect is Slim.