How Does Steinbeck Present Places In Of Mice And Men

How does Steinbeck present ‘places’ in the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’?
In the novella ‘Of Mice and Men’ Steinbeck creates his settings within California; a favoured location for many Americans in the ‘Great Depression’. It was supposed to be a destination full of wealth, work and hope – a place where hard work leads to personal dreams. Instead, it was packed with social misery and exclusion and depression, especially for the migrant workers. Steinbeck writes to inform people of their suffering. Steinbeck creates six scenes in groups of two. The first and last scenes are presented at ‘The Place Near the Pool’ causing a circular structure. In the middle are two scenes in the bunkhouse and two scenes in the barn, which includes Crooks' room. Of

Steinbeck describes the bland setting of the bunkhouse. The initial sentence of section two,” The bunk house was a long, rectangular building. Inside, the walls were whitewashed and the floor unpainted,” lacks in colour and description; it’s also a very mundane and has monotonous rhythm. The first line symbolizes routine and boredom of the ranch workers. Almost every part of the bunk is made of things that were already used. Those who slept hear didn’t enjoy it at all. Dullness and darkness were the typical atmosphere of the world during the great depression. Phrases like “against the walls were eight bunks…” suggests, all workers were the same, supporting the rest of the novella. Although Lennie and George try to be different from other workers, their dreams are destroyed. Steinbeck shows harsh environments of society with the metaphor ‘Bunk House’ which force people to be selfish and violent to survive. Symbolic language is used “and there were medicines on the shelves, and little vials…” These show how the workers felt ill of life and were desperate for a remedy. Steinbeck implies that the ranch workers had reached the end of their tether, caused by their monotonous life and the great depression. The word ‘vial,’ has connotations with drugs; a form of retreat from the psychological torment of the

Imagery is used “Crooks’ bunk was a long box with straw, on which is blankets were flung,” to show Crooks hierarchy, giving the idea crook was treated as an animal. The word “flung” is significant; it shows Crook has been a victim of bullying therefore has no care for life. This is a contrast to the other characters – they have ambitions; Crook has already given up. In the 1930s, racism was still prominent. Steinbeck uses ‘Crooks Room’ to show how black ranch workers were treated compared to the whites. This issue is addresses quite late into the novella, creating a new type of atmosphere and another problem to burden the plot of the