RumpleKewlMikeyPro

like not necessarily in the (typical) romantic relationship way but like more of relationship of understanding

like slim understands way better than anyone else on the ranch so maybe he could see curley’s wife as the real person she is and not just some problematic flirt and he has the possibility to understand her like why she interacts with all the men - not to flirt but because she wants human connection.

and since they are both lonely and isolated from the others maybe they could connect through that; like they could both support each other.

if curley’s wife opened up to slim like she did with lennie then I imagine that he would listen and understand and not be dismissive like the others. maybe it even could cause slim to open up emotionally to her if she opened up to him as she is showing him her vulnerability; they both could potentially get through each others emotional walls that they’ve built up. but that’s just potentially since slim is someone who doesn’t open up easily.

also if she did that could have potentially changed the ending, although I doubt that since her fate and the ending seemed to be inevitable.

maybe with slim she could feel like someone actually sees her as a real person since slim is empathetic and is possibly the only character who treats her with some degree of respect. with slim she could just be herself instead of having to put on that act she does. slim could recognise her struggles and realise that she is just like the rest of them. they have like almost a quiet understanding between them.

this possible connection is also hinted at near the end, where slim goes to check her dead body.

“Then Slim went quietly over to her, and he felt her wrist. One lean finger touched her cheek, and then his hand went under her slightly twisted neck and his fingers explored her neck. When he stood up the men crowded near and the spell was broken.”

“quietly” suggests how he didn’t rush to her body, he didn’t do it loudly, it suggests respect and even honouring her, it creates a calm atmosphere.

i’ve always thought about this bit - “one lean finger touched her cheek”. he didn’t have to touch her cheek, it doesn’t confirm if she’s dead or not. he did it in a humane way, in an intimate way. i see it to be like grief, grieving for her life, how she was trapped, how no one ever talked to her, how she died without living life properly. he’s seeing her truly in a way no one else ever saw her in her life and it suggest respect and care towards her in her death. it’s like a final goodbye. a closure for her death.

“explored” in this paragraph can be seen as a gentle action and not rough, he’s handling her carefully and thoughtfully.

“the spell was broken” this suggests that just for that moment, everyone was silent. the world paused. for that moment it was just slim and her. for a moment it was just understanding and care. in that moment, slim recognised her as not ‘jailbait’ but as a lonely person, she was just her in that moment.

the entire paragraph suggests how delicate and careful his actions are, how they aren’t just about checking if she’s dead but more. his actions are full of respect and understanding, full of gentleness and calm. slim gave her dignity during her death, something she never had when she was alive. his touch isn’t just about his duty to check if she’s dead, it’s recognition. he sees her. slim has been described to be more of a man of action than words. he saw who she truly was in that moment and gave her a moment of respect and understanding. he realises that she could have been more if the world had let her, and he shows that through his actions.