John Steinbeck 's Social Responsibility

There are many authors, poetry writers, and novelists around this world, but what make them into a famous author or writer? One of the famous American writer was John Steinbeck. He earned a Nobel prize of literature from his American classic novels that he had written in the past. The Nobel prize was not the only award that he had earned for his literature, he earned different awards for his writings also (John Stein..). John Steinbeck is a man who had overcome different obstacles and being successful in life.

In early American history, individuals with mental illnesses have been neglected and suffered inhuman treatments. Some were beaten, lobotomized, sterilized, restrained, in addition to other kinds of abuse. Mental illness was thought to be the cause of supernatural dreadful curse from the Gods or a demonic possession. Trepanning (the opening of the skull) is the earliest known treatment for individuals with mental illness. This practice was believed to release evil spirits (Kemp, 2007). Laws were passed giving power to take custody over the mentally ill including selling their possessions and properties and be imprisoned (Kofman, 2012). The first psychiatric hospital in the U.S. was the Pennsylvania Hospital where mentally ill patients were left in cold basements because they were considered not affected by cold or hot environments and restraint with iron shackles. They were put on display like zoo animals to the public for sell by the doctors (Kofmen, 2012). These individuals were punished and isolated and kept far out of the eyes of society, hidden as if they did not exist. They were either maintained by living with their families and considered a source of embarrassment or institutionalized

During the 1800s, treating individuals with psychological issues was a problematic and disturbing issue. Society didn’t understand mental illness very well, so the mentally ill individuals were sent to asylums primarily to get them off the streets. Patients in asylums were usually subjected to conditions that today we would consider horrific and inhumane due to the lack of knowledge on mental illnesses.

This included patients with severe depression, schizophrenia, down syndrome, severe autism, etc. In the 1920s these patients were not treated or cared for well. The few institutions the state had were in horrible condition and for most going in was a life sentence to solitude and excruciating therapies. If they were fortunate enough to be released they were treated with no respect by the public. But during Long's career he worked hard to better these institutions. He abolished torturous therapies such as chaining patients to their chairs in plow stocks. He then provided modern therapy that was much more beneficial to the patients. He also built institutions for mentally disabled children and epileptics. All this along with building new institutions and renovating the old ones, he totally transformed the mental healthcare

The book the pearl was full with a variety of action and surprising events. The author Steinbeck's moral argument of money doesn't buy happiness is demonstrated in every event occurring in the book. Kino and Juana made the right decision to throw the pearl away because it was an object that brought harm. This novella could have had a variety of different endings.

In this novella, I developed a thesis statement, which is: The pearl kept Kino moving forward because it represented hope during a period in his life. I chose this thesis statement because one of the aspects that makes this story move forward is Kino’s hope and greed; even if this greed is based on his hope. Steinbeck quotes: “Every man suddenly became related to Kino’s pearl, the schemes, the plans, the futures, the wishes, the needs, the lusts, the hungers of everyone, and only one person stood in the way and that was Kino, so he became curiously everyman’s enemy” (Steinbeck, 27).

Although there were significant advances in the science of mental illness, many mentally handicapped people weren’t able to be treated because they didn’t know about treatment facilities, couldn’t afford to be

Imagine, if you can, being mentally ill in the 1840’s. You have been caged without any heat or locked up without clothing. Most of the time would have had painful physical restraints. All because of an illness you could not control. It wasn’t until a woman named Dorothea Dix was so appalled by these conditions that things started to change for those who were mentally ill. She spent over forty years of her life campaigning to get better care and living conditions for the insane and homeless.

The mentally ill were cared for at home by their families until the state recognized that it was a problem that was not going to go away. In response, the state built asylums. These asylums were horrendous; people were chained in basements and treated with cruelty. Though it was the asylums that were to blame for the inhumane treatment of the patients, it was perceived that the mentally ill were untamed crazy beasts that needed to be isolated and dealt with accordingly. In the opinion of the average citizen, the mentally ill only had themselves to blame (Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, 1999). Unfortunately, that view has haunted society and left a lasting impression on the minds of Americans. In the era of "moral treatment", that view was repetitively attempted to be altered. Asylums became "mental hospitals" in hope of driving away the stigma yet nothing really changed. They still were built for the untreatable chronic patients and due to the extensive stay and seemingly failed treatments of many of the patients, the rest of the society believed that once you went away, you were gone for good. Then the era of "mental hygiene" began late in the nineteenth century. This combined new concepts of public health, scientific medicine, and social awareness. Yet despite these advancements, another change had to be made. The era was called "community mental health" and

“...in 1913, the passing of the Mental Incapacity Act in Britain led to around 40,000 men and women being locked away…” (NewStatesMan) That was a ton of mental people being locked up because they weren’t “useful” or “any good”. Of Mice and Men, written by John Steinbeck describes how two men, George and Lennie, have a dream to one day own a farm and have the American Dream. Lennie isn’t exactly like the other guys at the ranch. He faces many difficulties unlike the others.

Every great writer had their own influences, John Steinbeck was no exception. Steinbeck’s influences cam from family, friends, and his environment to write detailed descriptions to involve or influence the reader. Whenever someone reads one of John Steinbeck’s works they are in immersed in the scene he is describing, he makes you feel as if you are right there experiencing everything there first hand.

The mentally ill were treated very inhumanly in the early insane asylums. Some of the

In Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck illustrates that responsibility is a burden one must carry. Throughout the story, and even before the events of the story, George takes on the role of Lennie’s guardian. He takes full responsibility for Lennie and his actions, ensuring that both are able to survive, even though Lennie is often a nuisance. But until the end, or at least Lennie’s end, George makes sure he is responsible for everything regarding Lennie, even his death. Because George has been caring for Lennie most of their lives, George has learned to accept being responsible for Lennie as part of his duties in life, no matter how much of a hassle Lennie presents.

Mentally disabled people in the 1930 's did not have the same treatment, which they are afforded today. Mentally disabled people during this era had the tendency to be placed into mental wards--at an alarming number. Doctors during this time did not have the understanding of mental disabilities that they do today. Many hospitals were overcrowded given doctors would tend to commit the mentally disabled person (given their inability to properly treat them).

During the mid-1800’s the mentally ill were either homeless or locked in a cell under deplorable conditions. Introduction of asylums was a way to get the mentally ill better care and better- living conditions. Over a period of years, the admissions grew, but staff to take care of their needs did not. Asylums became overcrowded and treatments that were thought to cure, were basically medieval and unethical