In the novel "Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck the author thought his characters, settings, and events describes the difficulty that people experienced in life in the west during the great deppresion.1 The Great depression affected the whole world during the 1930s. Thousands of people made there way west to California to escape from their farmlands in the mid-west.
John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California on February 27,1902 he was the youngest of three children. His father was a farmer and his mother was a schoolteacher.2 His family was middle class but appeared to be upper class because they lived in a large Victorian home. They were very involved in the community. Steinbeck graduated from Salinas's high school in 1919. Then he attended Stanford University between 1920-1926 but didn't not graduate. 3 He supported himself through manual labor while beginning his writing career.
Of mice and men is based in Soledad, California this novel deals with migrant laborers during the Great Depression, it focuses on to main characters, George Milton and Lennie Smalls.4 Clinging to each other's loneliness. George and his simple-minded friend Lennie dream as drifters for a place to call their own.
In chapter one Lennie and George spend the night by the Salinas' River a few miles south of Soledad. They plan to start work the next day at the Spreckel Ranch.5 They earned $2.50 to $3.00 a day, plus food and very basic accommodations.6 During the 1930's there was very bad unemployment in the U.S.
In the morning they reach the ranch. Curley (their boss) was expecting them the night before. Curley picks a fight with Lennie. Also, in this chapter we are introduced to many other characters. Candy who is an elderly man who works at the bunkhouse. Candy, an old swamper, missing one hand. George and Lennie becomes very close to Candy thorough the book. They even share their dream with and make him a part of it.