How important is Curley to the success of the narrative in Of Mice and Men?

In the narrative of Of Mice and Men, Curley is a pivotal character as the antagonist, especially since his wife is a genitive of him, and, therefore, a part of the conflicts generated by him.

One of the themes of the novella of Steinbeck is the importance of male camaraderie and fraternity. While the men are in the bunkhouse playing cards, for instance, or when they are throwing horseshoes outside the barn, there...

In the narrative of Of Mice and Men, Curley is a pivotal character as the antagonist, especially since his wife is a genitive of him, and, therefore, a part of the conflicts generated by him.

One of the themes of the novella of Steinbeck is the importance of male camaraderie and fraternity. While the men are in the bunkhouse playing cards, for instance, or when they are throwing horseshoes outside the barn, there is an atmosphere that is calm and cheerful. But, when Curley's wife--who has no name but is simply identified as a genitive of Curley--stands in the doorway with her rouged lips, red nails, and red shoes with "little bouquets of red ostrich feathers," this wife of the son of the boss effects discomfort, nervousness, and anxiety among the men, who must control their natural male urges. In short, Curley's wife is an Eve figure, a temptress, who disrupts the peace of her husband and the other men. Realizing this, George tells Lennie,

"...keep away from her, 'cause she's a rat-trap if I ever seen one. You let Curley take the rap."

Certainly, that his wife, the only woman on the ranch, keeps Curley stirred up makes him extremely aggressive toward the other men as he worries about them as rivals.

Thus, he becomes the spoiler of the fraternity of the men, a fraternity that strengthens the spirit and overcomes the terrible alienation of the bindle stiffs. Further in the narrative, after Lennie inadvertently kills Curley's wife, Curley becomes the ultimate antagonist, vowing to kill Lennie. The knowledge that Curley will enact violence upon Lennie, then, propels George to commit his mercy shooting of Lennie.