These four characters are the misfits and weak characters of the play. They are all unwanted, isolated people, all with a dream unfulfilled. This is what categorises them. Curleys Wife calls them weak to insult them, because she is interfering, and she is insulted, because they feel she's interfering on their dream. The three men had spent the last twenty minutes or so describing and discussing it, about it becoming a reality. The dream holds them together. But Curleys wife ruins all this by turning up at Crooks' bunk. This is because she's lonely too. There are no other women on the farm, she has no friends, is bullied by Curley, and has got herself a bad reputation by giving men "the eye" on many an occasion. So she is incredibly annoyed when they tell her to go away because they "don't want no trouble". She doesn't want to be alone. She puts up with Candy having a go at her, but as soon as Crooks does, she strikes back viciously. "I could get you strung up on a tree so easy it aint even funny." She threatens Crooks for her pleasure, to make her feel better about herself. Crooks reduces himself to nothing when she does this. Curleys wife is mean and malicious, from her isolation, treatment and bad reputations effect.
             Curleys wife knows how to hurt them. She calls them a "nigger an dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep". She hurts them because they are weak, and can do nothing to stop her. If they told, nobody would believe them. They are nobody important. First there is Candy. He is an old man, and not much use on the ranch. He had lost on hand from an accident. Furthermore, because he is old. He is also depressed and lonely, he cannot go to whore houses or gambling with the other guys. He has no security, no family, and has recently lost his pet dog. Crooks is crippled. He is also a black man, and a victim of the most atrocious racism. For example the boss "gave th...