Intense imagery in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is filled with intense imagery from many sources. The characters and setting don't feel like they're part of a story. They are real and therefore seem real in the book. Berendt gives them a distinctive look and feel that could only come from life. It gives them personality. Savannah itself comes alive. The actions of the people of Savannah also take shape. The actions of the characters also contribute to the effect of the details presented by Berendt. The people of Savannah are far from the proverbial "norm." They are a strange but interesting group. Savannah is a very laid-back city that loves visitors as much as parties; but he hates invaders. A lot of people tried to come to Savannah and industrialize the city, or corporate it in one way or another. They were always immediately, albeit politely, turned away. Driving in Savannah is also smooth. In fact, the citizens of Savannah have no choice in the matter. Traffic is prohibited in the squares that populate the town. Motorists have no choice but to drive around. “So traffic is forced to flow at a slow pace,” says Miss Harty. "The squares are our little oases of tranquility" (29).