LMS

Everyone, at some point during their lives, has probably met someone like Curley of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. More specifically, everyone has probably met a victim of Little Man Syndrome; a phenomenon that occurs exclusively in men of small stature. Under the influence of LMS, a man can suddenly acquire a disproportionately large ego and an urge to compensate for their height deficiency. Curley is a textbook-example sufferer, with little other development or noteworthy attributes, the lack of which ultimately making him somewhat of a static, shallow character.

Curley exhibited such symptoms upon his first encounter with George and Lennie. Within seconds of making his entrance, he becomes combative, scrutinizing the two men who he doesn't know from Adam with a glance that "was at once calculating and pugnacious". The display of macho-ism was not only unnecessary, it was also somewhat ridiculous. After his departure, Candy makes the comment "Curley's like a lot of little guys. He hates big guys. Kind of like he's mad at 'em because he ain't a big guy." This character Candy would know, seeing as he has been a swamper at Curley's family's ranch for quite some time, and has probably spent extensive time around him.

The author goes on to describe the various measures Curley takes throughout the novel to establish himself as tough, successful, and (most importantly) masculine. He wears "high-heeled boots like the boss" to distinguish himself from the paid workers. Since he was born into a little bit of money during a time where a little bit of money was a lot of money, Curley believes himself to be greater than all of the hired men at the ranch and make that clear to everyone around him. In addition to his boots, he also wears that infamous Vaseline glove and goes around telling people like Candy the swamper that he's "keeping it soft for his wife". He wants people to know he's got a wife to please, unlike most of the vagrant workers. Candy even commented that he seemed "cockier'n ever" since he got married.

The other characters are well-aware of Curley's affliction, and none of them seem to care to be in his company. George, an intuitive character, makes the statement "He seems like a son-of-a-bitch to me," shortly his first brush with the young man. This is understandable, considering the way Curley picked at Lennie so aggressively and without prompt. It's almost ironic, considering the fact that Curley sees Lennie for his size, and therefore sees him as potential to assert his own masculinity. In reality, Lennie is little more than a child, and asserting masculinity to someone like him is a hollow victory. Curley's wife says critically of him, "He spends all his time talking about what he's gonna do and guys he don't like." Of course, she would have to listen to all of Curley's endless big talk, being his spouse.

Overall, Curley's cocky, unlikable attitude is showcased throughout the duration of the novella, from the moment he's introduced until the final scenes. He never changes, never grows or develops, but remains a flat, static character; a pint-sized little punk with a floozy wife and a huge chip on his shoulder.