Question

Characterize Curley's wife as she is presented in the novel. How is the reader supposed to feel about her?

a) Curley's wife is portrayed as a caring and compassionate woman, and the reader is meant to feel sympathetic toward her.
b) Curley's wife is depicted as a friendly and approachable character, and the reader is meant to like her.
c) Curley's wife is presented as a lonely and desperate character, and the reader is meant to feel empathy for her.
d) Curley's wife is shown as a manipulative and dangerous character, and the reader is meant to distrust her.

Answer 1

Curley's wife is presented as a lonely and desperate character in the novel. The reader is meant to feel empathy for her.

Step-by-step explanation:

Curley's wife is presented as a lonely and desperate character in the novel. The reader is meant to feel empathy for her.

Throughout the story, Curley's wife is portrayed as someone who is isolated and yearning for companionship. She is the only woman on the ranch and is constantly seeking attention and interaction with the other characters. However, because of her marriage to Curley and the social norms of the time, she is marginalized and left feeling lonely and unfulfilled.

The author, John Steinbeck, depicts Curley's wife in a sympathetic light, allowing the reader to understand her struggles and the limitations placed upon her. This evokes feelings of empathy and compassion for her circumstances.