In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck an important conflict is between Curley and Lennie, when Curley first meets Lennie. This is an important conflict because it portrays the need for superiority between people in different positions, also how people get judged by their appearances and not their personalities.

Curley, who is intimidated by Lennie's cumbersome physique, starts a conflict trying to intimidate Lennie, who is inoffensively confused by Curley's reaction to him. When Lennie's 'Traveling friend' speaks for Lennie, Curley gets exasperated and says "Let the big guy talk" (Lennie) "....By Christ, he's gotta talk when he's spoke to." This conflict is important because it shows how Curley started an unnecessary conflict.

Lennie's sudden inferiority compared to Curley is pushed upon him, as to Curley, he is the more superior of them both and 'Lennie should talk back when spoken too'. Also as a superior person Curley needs to uphold his self-image as being better than everyone so "He alla time picking scraps with big guys." and he does this to prove that he's better and stronger even though he is of lesser physique.

When Lennie is judged by Curley only with a first impression, this shows how Curley judges him as a threat without getting to know Lennie as a person. With Lennie's "strong as a bull" appearance, Curley gets resentful towards Lennie "Kind of mad at 'em because he ain't a big guy". Curley's eager need for conflict to show that Lennie is no match for him, is what Curley thinks is needed, because he thinks, as Lennie's big and strong he must be a threat towards Curley's tough persona.

As you can see, due to his need to feel superior, Curley is overwhelmed by inferiority towards Lennie, but this is a deceitful image painted by judging Lennie before he knew him.