How Does Steinbeck Create Tension In Chapter 2 Of Mice And Men

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Chapter 2 begins the same way as the first-without people. Steinbeck contrasts the world of nature and the world of men by shifting the natural setting of chapter 1 to the bunkhouse in chapter 2. The bunkhouse is sparsely furnished with just the essentials of a bunk and a place to put gear. Tension is quickly built without exposition as the atmosphere is immediately hostile and uncomfortable. The beds are small and worn, "the walls [are] white washed and the floor unpainted.."(19). Nailed to the wall was an apple box which prohibited workers from setting up roots; making it easier to move in and out. This imagery painfully establishes the life a transient worker faces. Steinbeck chooses the characters language to be quite simple which is…show more content…
Unlike the boss Slim is greatly respected by his fellow workers and deemed as a great leader. "[Slim] was a jerkline skinner, the prince of the ranch..", all ranch workers looked up to Slim "His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be politics or love."(37). On the other hand we have boss's son Curley who walks around with a chip on his shoulder. Curley is always looking for a fight and seems to rub everyone the wrong way. He behaves threateningly to Lennie because "he hates big guys. Kind of like he's mad at em' because he ain't a big guy."(29). Shortly after Lennie and George encounter Curley's wife and Lennie can't help but gawk at her; "she's purty."(35).George sternly tells Lennie "you keep away from herm 'cause she's a rat-trap.."(36). Lennie in his instinctive animalistic way burst out "I don't like the place, George. This ain't no good place, I wanna get outa here."(36). This foreshadows not only a possible conflict between the two characters Lennie and Curley but Lennie and Curley's wife. You can link this to the woman in Weed, Lennie grabs her red dress and she cries for help and gets away. This could show Curley's wife is in

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