Thinking about imagery and symbolism, the author mentions time of day and setting frequently throughout this chapter, what is the significance behind progression of the time of day and how everything unfolds?

This chapter contains what might be analyzed as the climactic action of the novel - the event after which there is no turning back. Once again, as in the previous chapters, the action centers around a single location - very much like a stage play. We have seen so many threads of the story come together already, and the final plot movement of the story has a similarly inevitable trajectory. The symbolism from other chapters remains similar to past chapters. Steinbeck invites the reader to recall several additional associations in order to piece together the tragic resolution to come. We recall George's order from the beginning of the book - that if any trouble goes down, Lennie is to hide in the bushes near their original campsite.