George and Lenny are walking on egg shells around curley and other problems throughout the text. Fear is a constant theme in this novel. Explain the function of fear in the text and how it can both positively and negatively affect the story

Fear of losing a job, "being canned", is always prevalent in the story. Fear of losing the job leaves them open to abuse (Curley goes after Lennie) and introverted. Fear also keeps the men out of trouble on the ranch. They behave themselves because they don’t want to lose their jobs.