Defiance of Partiarchal Norms in John Steinbeck’s of Mice and Men

Abstract

JohnSteinbeck'sOf Mice and Menisnovellain which Curely and George represent the dominating force, whereas Curley's wife andLennie are the suppressed ones. Firstly, Curley's wife's resistance to obey her husband's orders shows she is not a demure women, rather she is against the male hegemony and is ready to fight against any antagonist forces. She is not the stereotyped womanwho follows each and every order given by her husband rather she is the rebellious force, who is ready to demand equality in every sector which she deserves too. Mostly it is seen that women are termed just as object to entertain male and are defined onlyas beauty and as the weak part of the society, in contrast Curley's wife is presented here with equal audacity to defy such norms and she even has the courage to argue with the male persons with the words of disgust. She presents her deserving argument tolead equally free life like the males enjoy in the society. Throughout the novel she questions and demands for her freedom, which is not granted by her husband, who as a whole represents the male norms. In short, she is presented as a valiant character in the novel that had every substance to defy the patriarchal norms.