The theme of lonliness and companionship makes itself prevelent in this book. The setting is perfect for such a theme, since the time almost mirrors this attitude. The setting can be brokeninto three major catagories, each presenting the theme in a different way. These catagories are as fallows: place, time, and atmosphere.
             The physical setting of the bok is in California. The author says the ranch Lennie and George are to work at is in a town south of Soledad, in the valley below the Gablan Mountains. This type of area fits with our theme because it seems very secluded, with restricted access, and as a resault, a low population. The author would know the problems of growing up in a small town such as this one, as he grew up in one himself. According to Steinback's biography, he was born in Salinas in 1902. Meaning he would have been in his early thirties dureing the time of the novel.
             The time of the book is set in the nineteen-thirties. This era in time is know as the 'Great Depression.' It was called this because of the economic slump resaulting from the stock market crash. During this time, segragation was still in effect. This plays into the theme of 'Lonliness and Companionship,' perfectly. In my observations any type of bias or bigotous acts are usually done out of fear of the unknown, and usually end in lonliness for both paries. This lonliness as a resault of segregation is even prevelent in the book. You can see it with the character Crooks. The political and social climate surrounding the novel is not good to say the least. Everything is very seperated. The different races all hated each other. Those lucky enough to be in power, the whites, even hated each other. The classes were divided. The once rich now felt unsettled because they were now poor, and the poor were now even poorer, which did not sit well. It seemed everyone was angry and decided to take it out on each other. To make things worse, there was political un
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