Curley is a violent bully. Though a small man, he can get away with his aggression because he is the son of the boss. Also, of course, he used to be a boxer. He treats the men badly and his wife even worse - he's only been married a short time but is already leaving her for the women in town.George has to shoot Lennie at the end to save him from what Curley would do otherwise. Since Lennie broke Curley's hand, retribution would surely be severe.
             Curley's wife is described by Candy as a "tart", but, as an excuse, we can say that she is very lonely. She claims she could have been a movie star, but instead she has ended up married to Curley. As the only woman on the ranch, she is an outsider, in a way as much a victim as Lennie. She tries to be nice to Slim and sees a friend in Lennie, but her situation leads to her behaviour, which leads to her death.
             It is quite important that she doesn't have a name because by being called Curley's wife she is seen as a possession (something belonging to Curley) rather than a person in her own right. She is just described as a tart, but little more is known about her. Maybe it's because of this that she enjoys teasing Lennie and the others on the ranch; she knows Curley does not
             approve and it is a way of getting her own sense of individuality back.
             ...