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John Steinbeck: Discovering America's Reality

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Interacting America Discovering America's reality. In the novel,"Travels with Charley in Search of America", John Steinbeck sets goals for himself to rediscover America. During the trip to find America, Steinbeck chooses to collaborate with the people of America. In Steinbeck's journey he encounters people that were influential toward the trip by helping him understand that their are no real archetypes in America: Robbie's father, The Actor, and The Brave Grey Man. Robbie's father is stuck in the olden days and refuses to catch up with America's ever-changing society. Robbie's father is stuck in the past and doesn't want Robbie to pursue his dream and become a hairdresser. Steinbeck states," It is my considered opinion that a hairdresser …show more content…

Steinbeck heard about these so called cheerleaders who would harass the black children, and Steinbeck noticed when he arrived a man taking his white daughter even though black children were attending the school. Even though segregation was in place the Brave Gray Man still took his daughter," The crowd was waiting for a white man who dared to bring his white child to school. And here he came along the guarded walk, a tall man dressed in light grey, leading his frightened child by the hand" ( Steinbeck 257). Steinbeck became very fond of his bravery and how he took his child even though others were attending the school. I noticed that Steinbeck kept watch of the man as he walked his daughter to the school," A shrill, grating voice rang out. The yelling was not in chorus. Each took a turn and at the end of each the crowd broke out into howls and roars and whistles of applause" (Steinbeck 257). Many people were proud of the Brave Gray Man. Steinbeck found interest of what he did, so he tried to help end segregation. Furthermore, these people all helped Steinbeck understand that their is no real archetype in

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