Understanding the Setting in "Of Mice and Men": Importance and Context
Explore the significance of the setting in John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" set in 1930s California. Discover how the time and place shape characters' dreams, struggles, and themes of loneliness and isolation amidst the Great Depression.
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OF MICE AND MEN SETTING
LEARNING INTENTIONS AND SUCCESS CRITERIA We are learning about: The meaning of the term setting as applied to a novel The importance of the setting in the novel Of Mice and Men , in terms of what the writer wants to convey to the reader. Success Criteria: You will understand what setting is and what the writer wanted the reader to know/ understand through his use of that setting You will be able to use your knowledge effectively in a Critical Essay.
WHAT IS SETTING? The word setting is used to mean: When the action of the novel takes place Where the action of the novel takes place
WHAT IS THE SETTING IN THIS NOVEL? In Of Mice and Men setting in both time and place are very important. The novel is set: In California in the 1930 s What was the situation in America at that time?
AMERICA/CALIFORNIA IN 1930S Following the collapse of the Wall Street stock market in 1929 the US entered a prolonged period of economic depression. During this period of harsh poverty and long term unemployment, hordes of migrant workers came to California from other parts of America in search of work. A series of droughts and failed crops in Oklahoma and Arkansas in the South West added to migration West. Men, mostly travelling alone, migrated from ranch to ranch on short term, poorly paid contracts.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT The two main characters of the novel are George and Lennie, two farm labourers who travel from ranch to ranch to work. They, like many others, dream of owning their own land. (Main theme of the novel)
ITINERANT WORKERS Men, like George and Lennie, who travelled from ranch to ranch, had no chance to form relationships and friendships. They did not feel that they belonged anywhere. This led to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Chapter One- George: Guys like us who work on ranches are the loneliest guys in the world. They got no family. They don t belong no place.
WHAT IS CONVEYED? So the setting helps the writer to bring out the main themes of the novel, and to show what a hard life these men had- something he wanted to highlight.
THE RANCH The main setting of the novel is on a ranch in the Salinas valley, California. The nearest town is Soledad- Spanish for loneliness Chapters 2,3,4,and 5 all take place on the ranch, all in enclosed indoor settings.
IMPORTANCE OF THE RANCH AS SETTING The ranch is isolated- this is important because it keeps the characters separate from the town. It creates a little separate society on the ranch. This society reflects the world outside the ranch: Attitudes to black people Attitudes to women Attitudes to people like Lennie The way the itinerant workers have to live
IMPORTANCE OF THE RANCH AS SETTING It also means that the characters are constantly thrown together- they cannot escape each other s company if they do not get on. This causes conflict and tension. (e.g- Curley and George/ Lennie.)This is vital to plot development.
