Curley's wife: lonely or vengeful?
Throughout the second half of part 4, Curley's wife is again found lurking around the ranch. This time her targets are Lennie, Crooks and Candy. While the three are conversating in Crooks' bedroom, she approaches them. Immediately there is backlash from them, including Crooks. While being confronted by the trio, Curley's wife says, "'Think I don't know where they all went? Even Curley. I know where they all went'" (77). Instantly, the men ask why she was so intently "looking for him" if she knows where he is, and she eventually says that she was lonely. This could possibly debunk my prior ideas of Curley's wife being unfaithful and he possibly being the unfaithful one. Subsequently, she went on a tirade about her loneliness, "'Ever'body out doin' som'pin'. Ever'body! An' what am I doin'? Standin' here talkin' to a bunch of bindle stiffs- a n***** an' a dum-dum and a lousy ol' sheep- an' likin' it because they ain't nobody else'" (78). This quote suggests a feeling of loneliness and exclusion from Curley's wife, another sign that maybe she isn't unfaithful but rather ignored by the others. This also shows that she is grateful for any social interaction she can get aside from Curley, a key attribute of isolation . If she really is so lonely, it's no wonder she tries to talk to people instead of being stuck in her house all day!
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