Curley's Wife:
* Objectification: Curley's Wife is primarily portrayed as a sexual object desired by the male characters. She is often referred to as "Curley's Wife" rather than by her name, emphasizing her lack of individual identity.
* Isolation: Curley's Wife is isolated and lonely. Due to her husband's controlling nature, she lacks meaningful social interactions and is denied opportunities for personal fulfillment.
* Stereotyping: Curley's Wife is depicted as a stereotypical "femme fatale" who brings trouble and disruption to the ranch. This portrayal reinforces the traditional view of women as sources of temptation and potential danger.
Crooks:
* Isolation and Discrimination: Crooks, an African-American stable buck, experiences extreme isolation due to his race. Segregated from the other men, he is denied access to the bunkhouse and forced to live in a separate shed.
* Lack of agency: Crooks has little agency over his circumstances and is subject to the whims of the other ranch hands. He lacks the power to challenge the discriminatory practices and experiences profound loneliness.
Candy's Wife:
* Absence and Brief Mention: Candy's wife is never physically present in the novel and is only mentioned briefly. Her absence highlights the lack of female characters and reinforces the focus on male narratives.
In conclusion, the treatment of women in "Of Mice and Men" reflects the limited social status and opportunities available to women during the 1930s. Marginalized, isolated, and often objectified, women like Curley's Wife and Crooks symbolize the broader challenges faced by women in society during that time.