John Steinbeck's powerful novel of brotherhood and the search for the unattainable American dream is a piece of literature that allows for many allegorical and mystical references. It is also a piece of literature that reveals the true nature and personality of John Steinbeck. Similar to a glossy window, the novel allows the reader to scrutinize Steinbeck's motives, although not entirely or clear. This powerful novel, Of Mice and Men , passively exposes the reader to the blatant, anti-feminist side of John Steinbeck. Although one could argue that Steinbeck was faking his anti-feminist view in order to establish a point, or rebel against the growing concern for women's rights, there is sufficient evidence that Steinbeck writes the novel from an anti-feminist point of view.
The character line up for this piece of literature is both intriguing and peculiar. The fact that two men are working and traveling together really contradicts the common "loner" theme of this time. In addition, Steinbeck offers only two women as characters in the simple plot of this book. Curley's wife is not even named by Steinbeck. Naming a character is a simple task that may describe or reflect actions of the character. Not only is she not named, but she is also described as a flirty, promiscuous woman (Steinbeck 23). At the end of the novel, Lenny kills her. Steinbeck, with no regret, kills off a nameless, almost worthless, character (83). Curley's wife is looked down upon by society, similar to the women at this time. She represents the view that men have of women in this particular setting, time and place.
In addition to Curley's wife, Aunt Clara is the second woman of the total two women in the novel. The only detail about Aunt Clara described by Steinbeck is that she used to give Lenny mice to pet (43). Aunt Clara is also described as the enemy towards the end of the book. When Lenny recalls his nice aunt, he blames her for his addiction to soft things (101). Once again, we see another female looked down upon by someone, in this case, blamed for something that causes a prominent climax, the killing of Curley's wife and the killing of a girl in Weed, the last town the two men lived in. In addition to blaming Aunt Clara for the accident, she is also actively portrayed as a very motherly figure, a stereotype that references the common view that women were supposed to keep to the home to “ care for children and do such tasks as milking cows and washing clothes” (DaMetz 15). Aunt Clara represents the motherly figure expected of many women at the time when this book takes place.
Whenever women are mentioned in the plot of the novel, they are usually in the context of a sexual nature. The ranch hands, including Lenny and George, frequently visit the local whorehouse (Steinbeck 11). This is an example of how women in the novel are associated with promiscuous behavior. In addition, none of the main characters ever mention wives or when they do mention wanting beautiful girls, they don't want to be committed to her. After reading the detailed account of Curley and his wife, one gets the feeling that the relationship is more physical than an emotional attachment (53). Throughout the novel, the men never mention any type of healthy relationship with women like marriage or any other type of formal relationship. This biased stereotypical information that Steinbeck floods the plot with references yet another common stereotype from men towards women. The belief that women were property for sexual pleasure and that they were worthless was prominent in this time.
Anti-feminism and unfair women's rights still exist in the present day world. Even though much advancement for women's rights have been made since the time in the book, women today still suffer from unfair disadvantages in the government and jobs. Steinbeck's view on anti-feminism is very discrete, yet many people can still refer passages to present day culture. Steinbeck gives the reader a small sample of the thoughts that he has, and lets the reader take the course of mystical interpretation.
