Misfits in Of mice and men

How does Steinbeck develop the theme of ‘the outsider’ in chapter 4 of the novel? "Of Mice and Men" is a skilful novel, which deals with the theme of 'misfits' and 'outsiders', that is individuals who do not fit into the mainstream of society. The novel portrays this idea of loneliness throughout John Steinbeck's stimulating and adventurous novel. Moreover, there are several clearly identified themes running through the novel; the loyalty and friendship which exists between the two main characters, George and Lennie, and the hostile environment of America during the Great Depression. However the main two themes of the novel are loneliness and prejudice. Steinbeck develops the theme of ‘the outside’ through four different characters; Lennie, Curley’s wife, Candy and Crooks. This is more specifically displayed in chapter 4 as we get more of an insight into Curley’s wife’s character and her reasons for her shallow minded behaviour and loud outspoken mind, in contrast to Crook's character who is conveyed as a person who likes to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. Inevitably ,Curley's wife and Crooks are both presented as been lonely, they both have no on to converse with, to share emotional connections or times with, the way they both sit around and do nothing majority of the time and are only really important to the characters when they're needed by them in a form, this is evidence that they are like an outsider and don't fit in, mainly because, Crooks is a different ethnicity due to the context inside the novel it suggests this, and Curley's wife because she is a woman and yet again this is conveyed in the context and theme of the novel.