In this time period women were treated unfairly and thought of as sexual objects rather then equal people. The fact that Candy called Curley’s wife a tart implies this thought. Curley’s wife seems to live up to this stereotype made by the men. We realise this from the clothing which isn’t really suitable for a farm and the colour red she is wearing which normally symbolises love in a sexually way. She is also acting flirtatious in the boys presence
We haven’t been told Curley’s wife’s name because the author wants to display the superiority of the male over women.
Statement Mr Waugh made helping our understanding. Also, we don’t know her name because she is always presented as an object of the men’s speculation. Some of them view her as a ‘tart’, or ‘jailbait’ – but they all consider her to be Curley’s possession. This means that in their minds it makes sense that she doesn’t get to have a name of her own.
React!