Chapter 2 begins with the introduction of a new setting, the environment of the bunkhouse and ranch. The bunkhouse was in a state of disrepair, and was very shabby and run-down. Beds were piled up on one another, and half the bunks didn’t even have blankets. Instead, they had “burlap ticking,” sheets of burlap that could barely cover them while they slept, and were full of bugs and ticks. The walls of the bunkhouse weren’t painted, and each occupant had only two shelves for personal belongings. Altogether a very cramped and not nice place to live.

The first person George and Lennie meet at the ranch is an old swamper who tries to explain how things work at the ranch. The next character introduced to us is the boss, who appears to be a strict man, who runs the ranch with an iron fist. He adds to the feeling of a harsh environment that won’t be friendly and welcoming. Another character who enforces the unfriendly environment is Curley, the boss’ son. The old swamper tells our protagonists that Curley picks fights with the bigger guys for “street credit.” AS well as depicting the environment of the ranch, Curley is the first character who shows signs of conflict with George and Lennie. One of the most important characters to the environment of the ranch is Slim. He is the “leader” of the ranch workers; they all look to him for advice. His appearance of a tough guy implies that on the ranch, it is survival of the fittest. From this, the reader may infer that conditions on the ranch aren’t the best. in fact, conditions are very far from that; the setting is very harsh. The overall environment of the ranch and bunkhouse is one that is tough, cramped, and unforgiving.

(this was only a short essay, so it isn’t a long, 5 paragraph amazing piece of work.)