Curley's wife is introduced in this chapter also.
Chapter three, Lennie and George's secret of why they left their previous jobs. Lennie was accused of raping a woman at a ranch in Weed, when all he did was touch her. She is considered one of the dangerous examples in the book. Also, Candy must kill his dog in this chapter. Carlson another character introduced in this chapter shoots the dog in the back of his head with his Luger. Supposedly, this way of shooting is a painless maneuver.7 The shooting is a foreshadowing of later events in the story.
Chapter four moves away from the focus of George and Lennie to Crook's, who is a Negro stable buck. Secluded from the other workers, because of his race. He refuses to let others in his room, because his is aware of how others exclude him. Lennie drops in on Crooks.8 Crooks who philosophizes about companionship. Crooks makes Lennie realize his own isolation and tells him he would be nothing without George. Lennie claims that he will soon own a piece of land. Crooks tells him that his dream will never come true.
Sunday afternoon while the rest of the men on the ranch play horseshoes, Lennie is in the barn with his new puppy. Lennie pets the pup so hard he kills the small dog. Curley wife comes into the barn and Lennie explains how he has a fondness for soft things so she encourages him to stroke her hair. When she wants him to stop he won't she begins to yell. Lennie breaks her neck out of fear.9 The author Steinbeck rests a great deal of blame for the murder on the victim herself. Candy and George find Curley's wife. George immediately realizes what has happened and quickly to control of the situation. Curley's immediately blames Lennie and perhaps even implicates George. Candy's reaction to the murder worries him. He is afraid that it will prevent his chances of buying land with George and Lennie. George gives the other people at the ranch misleading information about Lennie.