How does the setting in Of Mice and Men express the harshness of life?

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The setting of a novel refers to both where
and when the action happens. Both the historical period and the geographical location of
'Of Mice and Men' assist in expressing the harshness of life for the
characters.

Steinbeck chose a location with which he was
familiar - the California dust bowl of the 1930's, plagued with the ravages of
over-farming and seething with the discontent of labourers rapidly being replaced with
advancing agricultural technology. The areas of Salinas and Soledad were known to
Steinbeck: he had lived and worked amongst the sort of characters that he created in the
novel. These were lonely places,with men constantly moving to keep working and following
their dreams. Carlson, Slim, George and Lennie are used to the intinerant lifestyle, and
only George and Lennie invest trust in others. Those who stayed did so out of necessity
- Candy, Crooks and Curley's wife illustrted these types.