Explore the descriptive use of colour by Steinbeck in order to portray Curley's wife

Steinbeck uses many techniques in order to portray the character of Curley's wife, and one key method for doing so is through his use of colour. The colour red is of particular emphasis and reveals both physical and personal characteristics about her character. The colour red has connotations of sex and seduction, which would firstly make suggestions to the reader about her appearence. This creates an image of an attractive and potentially seductive woman, anchoring to the idea that Lenny is intrigued by her which leads to later events in the novel. This also makes subtle suggestions about her personality, in the way that she acts in a provocative manner towards the male characters, which may go onto to make deeper suggestions about gender roles. This shows how Steinbeck uses the colour red in order to create an image of an attractive and sexual woman for Curley's wife.

Moreover, the colour red has connotations of danger and thus could foreshadow danger associated with Curley's wife. (Continue in similar structure to prev. pararaph)