How Does Steinbeck Make Use of the Natural Setting in of Mice and Men

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The setting in Of Mice and Men is almost as small and confined as the plot; it occurs over a period of three days in four specific locations: the brush by the Salinas River, a bunkhouse on the ranch, the stable hand's room on the ranch, and the main barn on the ranch. Each setting has its own very important addition to the book; setting is one of the most significant and critical elements in the book. However, there is a larger background to the novel's setting: the Great Depression in the 1930s, which left people all over the country, especially men, poor and desperate for work. The Brush by the Salinas River is one of the most important locations in the entire novel. Steinbeck creates a beautiful and natural setting by his use of figurative language. “Willows fresh and green with every spring” and “leaves lie deep and so crisp” create an image in the mind of the reader that evokes a calm and peaceful mood. Steinbeck then uses the setting to introduce the two main protagonists. The arrival of the protagonists interrupts the harmony of the river bank, but before any sign of them is visible or within earshot, the birds fly away, the rabbits scatter, and all the other animals flee the area. This lets us know that something or someone is coming. Steinbeck introduces to the two main protagonists. They are the described identically but it is not until Steinbeck describes their different features that we learn their differences .We don’t know their names until the dialogue starts. Through their dialogue we learn that the larger man is Lennie and the smaller man is George. Both physically and character wise, George and Lennie are completely different, almost exact opposites. Lennie is not very bright, and acts like a big baby. He likes to pet soft things, he throws tantrums once in a while, and when he senses his advantage in an argument he takes that opportunity and is
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