George Milton and Lennie Small are the two main characters in the novel; two ranch workers running from trouble in their town due to Lennie's liking of stroking soft things. Lennie and George both share a dream of "livin" off the fatta' the lan' which was an idealistic dream of many in America during the Great Depression, it represents the freedom being your own boss and having your own land presents which many in their situation longed for.
During the novel Steinbeck gives many clues that their dream is futile as many tedious obstacles present themselves. The rabbits sit like "grey, sculptured stones," which then run for cover at the forthcoming footsteps; this represents the calm before the storm of Lennie and George's world.
Candy's dog was “a dragfooted sheep dog, grey of muzzle” which Candy had raised from a puppy. The dog eventually gets shot mercifully by Carlson, another ranch hand who cannot stand the smell and says that it's Candy who is not being kind keeping him alive. During the exchange of views Candy looks for alternatives, he looks to Slim who is the most respected ranch hand, due to his talents to help him. Despite this, Slim takes Carlson's point of view and offers Candy one of his puppies to raise up. "Candy looked about unhappily." "No" he said softly. "No, I couldn"t do that. I had "im too long." It is clear from this that no one understands the bond that Candy shares with his dog as the majority of the other ranch workers travel alone, not including Lennie and George who are also misinterpreted, especially by the boss.
Curley's wife is married to the boss' son Curley as of 2 weeks. She is quite often misunderstood by the other ranch workers and considered a "tart" and a "looloo." Some would argue that she was just lonely, being the only woman on the ranch. She couldn't freely talk to the other workers as they thought she would get them "canned", being the boss' son's wife.
Curley's wife, throughout the novel was portrayed as, very well made up "She had full, rouged lips", with fine clothes "She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers". This sort of attire is inappropriate for on a ranch which shows that she still longs for the "movie star" life she was told she could have by an admirer. She represents the failed dreams of many women stuck in loveless marriages. Throughout the novel Steinbeck never named Curley's wife as she was seen as a possession, not a person. Curley's wife was the only woman mentioned on the novel, aside from Lennie's Aunt Clara, ideally because in those days women were seen as a trap to ensnare and ruin men.
Slim is considered "the Prince of the ranch", which shows that the workers, even Curley respect him, and what he does. Slim is a "jerkline" skinner, very skilled in his work, "He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler"s butt'. He is also one of a very few that understood the bond Lennie and George shared, himself and Candy are the only people that show compassion to George in his loss at the end of the novel.
