Curley

     Curley is the son of the boss. On first impressions he tries to act superior and dominant to the workers, but he is actually just insecure about his status. He wants to tell everyone that he is in charge, but his physical appearance makes him a attraction to mockery. Curley wears high heeled boots to appear more taller and tough. His insecurity brings him to fight others, " Curley's like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. He's alla time picking scraps with big guys. Kind of like he's mad at 'em because he ain't a big guy."(Steinbeck 26)
     Curley being the son of the boss makes him think that he also has authority over them. By doing so he marries an attractive woman to make other guys want to be like him. "The swamper warmed to his gossip.'You seen that glove on his left hand?' 'Yeah. I seen it.' 'Well that gloves' fulla vaseline.' 'Vaseline? What the hell for?' 'Well, I tell ya what---Curley says he's keepin' that hand soft for his wife'". He uses his gloves to show off to people that he has a wife for a small person like him. He also is very protective over her and beats up anyone that talks to her. Crooks and Candy are very hesitant on talking to her because they are afraid of getting fired since he is the boss' son.