Curleyʼs Wife
Scene 1: They Meet Curleyʼs Wife
Book
In the book she is acquainted with the
two men a few minutes after meeting
Candy and the Ranch owner. She is
described as a tart by the men and
her manner of being is described as
hooker like and of a call girl fashion.
“She had full, rouged lips and wide-
spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her
fingernails were red. Her hair hung in
little rolled clusters like sausages. She
wore a cotton house dress and red
mules, on the insteps of which were
little bouquets of ostrich feathers......
She leaned against the doorframe
and so that her body was thrown
forward....” 1937,John Steinbeck, ʻOf
Mice and Menʼ, pages 34-35
In the book she has anonymity
because she has no name other than
Curleyʼs Wife. Her past is frequently
hinted at, but not very detailed, and
her personality is shown when she
has a brief conversation with Lennie
before her death.
Movie (1930) Movie (1992)
In this movie she is introduced in a very different way. Her introduction begins In this film Curleyʼs Wife is introduced
when the men (George, Lennie, and Candy) are talking about her and her in a way quite similar to the one in the
character. There is a change of scene. This new scene shows Curleyʼs Wife in book. She enters the bunker and
the barn playing with a puppy. Then Curley and his father are at the door, they asks the men if they have seen
begin speaking. Curley, the men answer and she
C- “Have you seen Mae?” leaves. She is quite accurately
F- “Why do you keep pestering her? She donʼt do no harm!” portrayed. Her physical appearance
C- “How do I know that?” and way of being is spot on, but her
F- “Ya know, maybe if Mae had some women to talk to...”C- “It ainʼt women Iʼm clothes and nails are not correct. She
worried about...” is indeed wearing a cotton house
F- “Awww. Stick to your job and forget your wife for and hour!” dress with pink simple floral designs,
After the men say this, it shows Maeʼs face and her look of dismay. that is correct. She wears plain black
She storms out and says. shoes and has plain unpainted nails.
M- “You sure trust me Curley!” “Nobody canʼt blame a person for
C- “As far as I can spit! looking. See ya around.” She says
He asks her if anyone was in the barn with her, and she says no, he checks and before leaving the bunk house,
sees a young man (who had entered while they talked) and ʻsocksʼ him. Mae showing her flirty side. In this movie I
gets mad at him. She expresses her want to talk to somebody and her need to think she is portrayed very well. She
do something. shows the emotions Steinbeck
He gets mad at her and requests he give back the puppy Slim has given her as illustrated in the book through
a present. She refuses and Curley storms off muttering about giving Slim the Curleyʼs Wife.
ʻOld One Twoʼ
Her physical appearance is quite inaccurate because she has short curley
blonde hair and a short dress accented with a thick black belt. She wears mules
with rhinestones on them.
I found it interesting that the director decided to give Curleyʼs Wife a name
because it moderately changes her character. She no longer has a sense of
mystery and is not as interesting as in the book. I do, however, agree with their
casting choice, though Betty Field is not physically like Curleyʼs Wife, she did an
excellent job of personating her.

Book
In the book the scene begins with Lennie and his
dead puppy. Curleyʼs Wife comes in and tries to talk
to Lennie. Lennie says that he isnʼt allowed to talk to
him because George said he shouldnʼt. She says “All
the guys got a horse shoe tenement goinʼ on. Itʼs
onʼy about four oʼclock. None of them guys is goinʼ to
leave that tenement. Why canʼt I talk to you? I never
get to talk to nobody. I get awfully lonely.”
In due corse Lennie gives in and talks to her.
She consoles him and tells him that the death of his
puppy is no big deal. When Lennie goes on about not
being allowed to talk to him, she gets mad and
rambles on about how she should have a right to
speak to anyone she wants, and how ʻshe aint doinʼ
no harm to anyoneʼ. She then proceeds to prattle on
and on about what she could make of herself and
about her past. Soon after, Lennie tells of his
potential future with the rabbits and such. In time, the
conversation leads to the gratification one feels while
touching soft things. Curleyʼs Wife offers to let Lennie
touch her hair, and when he gets too enthusiastic, he
starts to mess it up. She gets angry. Lennie gets
scared and covers her mouth and grabs her. She in
turn begins to struggle violently. Lennie tries to keep
her quiet, but accidentally breaks her neck while
doing so.
Her death in the book is very sudden and
unexpected. It occurs in a very quick and swift
passage.
Curleyʼs Wife
Scene 2: Lennie kills Curleyʼs Wife
Movie (1930)
This scene is quite interesting because it has certain
aspects that are similar to the book and certain that
arenʼt.
In this scene, Mae has packed her bags and is going
to leave, and passes by the barn to get her puppy.
She finds Lennie and his dead puppy. At first she
consoles him, but when the conversation develops,
both the characters find themselves daydreaming
about their potential future. Eventually they stray onto
the topic of touching soft things and how it is
pleasant. Mae offers to let curley touch her hair, but
when he gets over exited, she gets mad that heʼs
mussing it up. Lennie panics and grabs her, she
begins to scream he covers her mouth. She
struggles, Lennie shakes her and not knowing his
own strength, brakes her neck. Lennie runs away
and goes to the brook. Candy comes into the barn to
give milk to the puppies and finds the body.
The differences are subtle, but notable.
•She has a puppy
•She is packed to leave
•They both daydreams
This movie is different from the book, but is entirely
an attempt to improve it.
Movie (1992)
The scene here is quite the same as the book.
Lennie had just killed his puppy when Curleyʼs
Wife comes in. After comforting him, she begins
to talk to him. She tells about her past and her
aspirations to become an actress and how her
mother thwarted her dreams. She proceeds to
stress her dislike for Curley and her want for
company. Lennie talks very fondly of his rabbits.
She asks why he likes them so much and this
leads to the subject of touching soft stuff. She
offers to let him touch her hair, when he does he
gets exited and messes it up. She protests and
Lennie panics. While trying to prevent her form
screaming, he accidentally breaks her neck.
This movie is closer to what I imagined because
of the appearance of both characters and the set
it was acted on. I found it to be more interesting
and accurate.
 Assignment Due the 1st March, 2010

Using ALL the information you have gathered form the novel, the 2 films, and the notes
and worksheets, you are to choose 2 scenes from ʻOf Mice and Menʼ and compare the
way these 2 scenes are dealt with in the original writing (the novel) and the two films. Be
vary detailed. You must show that you are very knowledgeable about the novel about the
novel and both the films. To conclude your assignment, explain in detail which you liked -
either of the films or the novel. Why? It can be in any form. An essay must be at least
1000 words.
 Conclusion

In conclusion to all my research and reading I must say that though the acting in both movies was staggering, it, in no way reached the
caliber of the book written by John Steinbeck. I particularly enjoyed the book more than the movie because I could come up with my own
image of the characters instead of being presented someone else's image. I also liked her aura of mystery and loneliness the book
brought forth that the directors failed to reproduce. All in all, I believe the book was the best out of the three.