Stereotyping of Curley's Wife in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men: From Derridean Perspective

Abstract

This paper demonstrates how a critical reading of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men reveals oppression on female character and unequal gender relationship. The paper attempts to examine Curley's wife with regard to feminist approach. Steinbeck has viewed only single female character in the novel as a devil incarnation, a symbolic Eve who burnt lives of men in paradise. The paper interprets the novel from Derrida's theory of Logocentrism which provide framework for the author to correspond in underlying logical assumption. It could be seen that the characterization of Curley's wife is not complimentary in the novel rather more of derogatory. She has been subjected to numerous fixed features of stereotyping by the ranchmen. Her tragic death has been justified as the only logical reason for bringing stability in men's world. The paper has intended to go through the issue of gender discrimination much more profoundly and has found the dominant viewpoint which has hijacked the whole atmosphere of the novel and certain group of characters has assigned fixed roles for woman and his roles for in society and family.