Steinbeck
presents three settings in this novella. The first is the pool of water near the Salinas River,
the place where the novel begins and ends. In this peaceful and natural setting of trails,
water, and willow trees,andachieve a respite from the grinding work of being itinerant ranch
hands. This is a liminal space, not a dream world, but, at the same time, removed from the
harshest elements of civilization.
The ranch, where most of the story takes
place, is a harsh environment. The men have few amenities in their bunk house, work hard, have
no security, and are subjected to a social hierarchy that is oppressive and intrusive. For
example, Curley, the owner's son, can enter the bunk house at any time and start pushing people
around.
A third setting that recurs throughout the novel is the imaginary
landscape of the small farm George and Lennie dream of owning. This idyllic space, where the men
can have privacy, dignity, autonomy, and plenty, contrasts sharply with the...
No comments:
Post a Comment