Steinbeck grew up in Salinas, CA, and many of his works
are set in the Salinas River Valley area, most likely because he knew the area so
well. Steinbeck stressed realism in his writing. He lived among migrant workers to study
their dialect and to be able to sympathize with their plight. He wanted to expose the
struggles of the outcast or downtrodden, and visiting areas around his hometown allowed
him plenty of opportunities to get to know those whom he
championed.
The Salinas River does play a literal and
figurative role in Of Mice and Men. During the Great Depression,
the Salinas River Valley was one of the few places in the country where work could be
found. The land there was not barren from drought, and people from across the country
migrated there. Thus, it is realistic for George and Lennie to wander from job to job
and even for them to be from somewhere that is most likely far away from the Tyler
Ranch. Figuratively, a river is where the novella begins and ends, and it represents a
peaceful, soothing place for both George and Lennie. By the river, they are able to be
"their own boss," and no one harasses Lennie or forces George to defend him. In this
aspect, the river plays a similar role as the Mississippi River in Huck
Finn--it's a place free of social and cultural disdain or
rules.
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