Importance Of The Valley In John Steinbeck's Grapes Of Wrath

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Finally, for the physical location, though the first part of the novel takes place in Connecticut, the rest of the novel mostly takes place in Salinas Valley, California, where Steinbeck lived. Due to the Manifest Destiny, or the idea that God decreed that America should be settled coast to coast, the state of California has always been symbolized in American culture as a kind of Promised Land or Paradise. The valley is known for producing an abundance of produce and raw materials, causing Steinbeck to attribute Eden-like elements to his description. The Narrator’s description of the valley is nothing short of breathtaking: “I remember that the Gabilan Mountains to the east of the valley were light gray mountains full of sun and loveliness