Criticising the Society in "Breakfast" by John Steinbeck
The story 'Breakfast' by John Steinbeck is a description of a warm experience he had had. The story also has indirectly criticized society.
The writer was fascinated by their simple living. Their high spirits, simple airs, their satisfaction and hospitality, all had an element of beauty in them which put an everlasting impression on the writer's mind. The deep impression it made was also because the writer was cognizant of the bitter fact that people in the modern society are not so simple and hospitable. There are now one in thousands who freely admits to his house and offer food and entertain. The family in the story was of kind and generous nature, and by their benevolent
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The family in the tale was happily constituted who were by nature endowed with a contented frame of mind. They had no complaints for their meager resources or for the unfavourable conditions that prevailed at that time. People nowadays, go on complaining against the Government policies and the prevailing circumstances. They do not try themselves to make things better unlike the family in the story who worked hard instead of wasting time and energy in blaming the conditions.
Real happiness does not depend upon wealth and comforts of life. Money and prosperity are not the only guarantee for a happy and contented life. These simplicities urged the writer to recall the genial meeting again and again. He thought with a notion of delight, ?But there was some element of great beauty there that makes the rush of warmth when I think of it.?
Thus the beauty lied in their simple yet appealing character which had dragged the writer?s feelings and its lovely recollections were treasured by the writer for a life time.
Such beauty and contentment is rare to find. As it is said, ?Give one a particular amount of wealth that one has set his mind upon, and one will some still richer man to envy, and be as discontented as ever.? The possibility of remaining discontented in spite of success and prosperity arises from the insatiable nature of
Through characterisation, the author is able to express the main idea of disempowerment and also allowing us as readers to feel discontented and upset towards the main character.
The main conflict involved all characters that struggling for survival during the Great depression due to the insecurity of jobs, uncertainty about future and no enough money. One of the conflicts was man vs. society in the story. Crooks, who was a black man with crippled back, segregated from other farm workers. He did not allow sleeping in the bunkhouse with the rest of people. Crooks consistently discriminated and considered as a second class citizen which lived separately in the stable with horses. Furthermore, He had called names and abused by others. He had not even given respect to having name and society will stay the same which he could not attain American Dream.
Attention Materials: Many times I have wondered what is true happiness. Is there such thing as true happiness? Can it even be attained if there is such a thing? Is it more of fulfilling desires, or satisfying psychological needs? Every person attempts to realize happiness in its fullest essence. It seems like today people are too busy trying to get rich. Nowadays it is believed that happiness lies in that new mansion, or a nice Ferrari. People are mistakingly assuming that wealth will bring to them a personal significance in which they will achieve happiness.
The novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck emphasizes the division in social classes and social structure based on power. The novel and its themes are based around the characters’ interactions and decisions. Their motivations come directly from other characters, and the social construct on the ranch that controls the characters within the novel. Each character has their own journey of giving into the powers that control their society and lives which leads to each of their own inescapable demises.
By changing the perception of all types of wealth, not just fiscal prosperity, multiple pathways to happiness become apparent. “When your
Material items and possessions may give temporary satisfaction, but after that fleeting moment, the cravings for more start anew. The Fisherman and His Wife and The Great Gatsby both show examples of how a person can never be satisfied with the amount of possessions they have. Satisfaction cannot be achieved unless that person is happy with themselves. Happiness should not depend on possessions, but rather self-satisfaction.
After the Great Depression, many things changed, different\\ genders and races were all treated differently. Blacks and white women were forced to be outcast in the world, women belonged in the house and blacks did not belong anywhere. In the book Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck portrays perfectly of how blacks and women were separated from everyone else with Curley’s wife and Crooks, the black stable hand. Curley’s wife and Crooks are alike in many ways; in their loneliness, the way they are separated from everyone else and how they get out casted from everything, discriminated against during the time period; which helps show how blacks and women were treated during this time period of life.
7. The setting is used as a reflection of the woman's inner emotions. The sun shines and birds sing with no sign of gloom because she is not actually mourning as she thinks to herself. The lack of sorrow from the woman cause the setting to seem even more lovely to her as she realizes she is feeling joy. The details used by the writer portray a sense of well being and positivity. The woman reaches out towards the window as if her joy is tangible, this is a vey important
However, when their mother came through the door and told them of a hungry family, the 4 women did not hesitate in giving away their luscious breakfast to those in need. The children delivered the food to the family and “a poor, bare, miserable room it was, with broken windows, no fire, ragged bedclothes, a sick mother, wailing baby, and a group of pale, hungry children cuddled under one old quilt, trying to keep warm”(24). The sisters realize what a harsh environment they live in, and because the setting is so pessimistic, they try to share the little wealth they have so that everyone may live long full lives. The setting in which they live, houses many people who have even less wealth than their own family. However, because of this dreadful place, they try and make sure that their community, or their family, is taken care of, even at the expense of their luxuries.
Of Mice And Men' by John Steinbeck is a classic novel, tragedy, written in a social tone. The authorial attitude is idyllic, however, as the story develops it changes into skeptic. It is evident that Steinbeck knew the setting and places he is writing about.
lead him to a life of worry and lack of security, as he is old and a
In today’s materialistic world, the phrase that ‘money can’t buy happiness’ is tending to be proved hence otherwise. Social research and surveys have shown results based on an individuals income, health and the political scenario which is dominant in his or her region. It is quite obvious that the gap between the privileged and the not so is growing into a great divide giving rise to different class and status, thus defining ones social circle. It should therefore be understood how an individuals economic status affects their personal happiness throughout all aspects of life. Many tend to refer to this age-old quote especially when they tend to belong to sector of people who can’t afford the modern day luxuries of life. What they do not
However, Myers and Wiederman also consent that wealth, achievement, and one aspect of inheritance, little voice, might be obstacles to achieve happiness. Myers writes that money cannot buy happiness or bring it. Although people in poor countries are less happy than people in rich countries, some rich people are not as satisfied as regular people in the same country, and some of them don't know happiness, whereas a few of them are happy because they know how to gain it and how to spend it. Also, he compares people in the past and the present in the U.S. He concludes that Americans in the past seems happier than Americans now though the economy has been increasing, so wealth cannot escort satisfaction. According to Wiederman, accomplishment also may not lead to well-being since people whose goal is money will not be happy. That is because after achieving their goal, they will compare themselves with those who are richer than them. Then despondency will be their feelings. Moreover, if their goal is not money, and they are strong-linkers, another two situations may occur. He discusses that strong-linkers
Furthermore, people who work for wealth are never satisfied, because the things that they want and the work that they do to get it are never ending.
However, those people with the means are reluctant to sacrifice an excessive amount that they would descend in status (Mill 89). Those who are of lower faculties #, and thus have less enjoyment, are more easily satisfied (Mill 90). Compared to their inferiors, people of higher classes continue to seek happiness and are never truly satisfied. Mill links this continuous search with dignity (Mill 90). Due to the sense of dignity, “someone will not feel envious of those who bear imperfections because he does not understand the benefits of those limitations” # (Mill 91). In explaining this concept, Mill compares a human being dissatisfied to a pig satisfied and Socrates dissatisfied to a fool satisfied. The pig and fool reason that they are well-off, but the human being and Socrates know they are superior because they are further educated (Mill 91).