Crooks: Crooks experiences the unfairness of society through the segregation and racism he experiences on the ranch. Crooks works hard, is intelligent, and causes no trouble, yet he is avoided by others and must keep to himself simply because of the color of his skin.
Lennie: Because of Lennie's mental disability, he is considered a burden and a liability. Lennie is only as useful as his strength which reflects Steinbeck's choice to constantly describe him as animal like.
Candy: Steinbeck uses Candy's dog to symbolize Candy's ultimate fate in the story. Slim describes his dog as old and useless, and Slim kills the dog because of it. Candy is old himself and has a work injury that impedes him from doing hard labor. Society suggests that the elderly or injured are useless giving Candy no place to belong.
Curly's Wife: According to society, Curly's Wife's sin is being a beautiful, young woman. Curly's wife is the only woman on the ranch is desperately seeking some kind of connection to deal with the loneliness and isolation she experiences. However, Curly's jealousy and the ranch workers' desire to keep their job cause her to be shunned from all those around her. Even more unfair for her is her marriage to Curly. Curly has a beautiful and young wife, but still seeks out women at Suzy's place. With no one willing to connect with her, a husband who doesn't love her, no family or children of her own, Curly's wife is completely and utterly alone.
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