The Life and Writings of John Steinbeck Essay

The Great Depression marked one of the most economic and social downfalls in the history of the modern world. During this time, a handful of American writers chose to reflect how their lives were affected during this time period through literature. Because of the divide in social class during this time, various standards of personal position were demonstrated through the published opinions of literary activists. John Steinbeck, known as one of the most popular American modern authors to ever put pen to paper, illustrated how the Great Depression and movement into the modern world left its noticeable footprint on him and the world around him. With that, Steinbeck’s “writing in the 1930’s protested against tendencies in the American way of life...” (Gray). Steinbeck undoubtedly had his mind set on prevailing the new American lifestyle to the world. In his novel The Grapes of Wrath, indicates

During the Great Depression, many citizens faced an arduous lifestyle of unemployment. However, many people managed to entertain themselves by reading literature such as The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck witnessed an injustice towards farmers during the Great Depression, and this inspired Steinbeck to present his perspective of the maltreatment to the open through The Grapes of Wrath. The fictional novel describes how unfortunate conditions, during the Great Depression, force an Oklahoma farmer family to travel to California in search for an easy life, job opportunities, and a bright future. John Steinbeck represented and connected his tones through his trope, making it an excellent read. In the novel, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck

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 the year of 1929 the stock market crashed and hurt many of the people in America as it continued through the rest of the 1930s and into the early 1940s. This left America in a whirlpool of poverty and despair. When the stock market crashed it led to The Great Depression. It led to being where one out of every four workers became unemployed no matter if they were skilled or not. People became homeless and were struggling to survive. They had to make new homes out of cardboard or whatever they could find, these were called “hoovervilles.” Most people didn’t have enough money to buy food to feed themselves or even their families. President Herbert Hoover did not seem to be going out of his way to help the country in any way. He was against most forms of government relief and he believed that the depression would come to an end on its own. Americans were very tired and frustrated with Hoover’s ways and so they elected a new president. They elected Franklin D. Roosevelt who

The year was 1929. America goes through the biggest national crisis since the American Civil War. They called it the Great Depression. The Stock Market was going down, unemployment was going up, and money was becoming scarce. The United States had to look up to the one person who could lead the country out of this national catastrophe, The President. At this time the man who had that title was none other than Herbert Hoover. Hoover, A republican, hoped that this was all a nightmare, he hoped that the Depression was a small fluke that would fix itself after a short period of time. After seeing that the Depression was getting worse had to

The country was going through an ongoing rough depression that the previous President Hoover left in the road for his processor, President Roosevelt. Although not only President Hoover decisions and approval of laws added to the great depression, but the

I. John Steinbeck used his personal experiences as a laborer to write many of his novels like Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath.

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).

Of mice and men, published in 1937 is one of the most important and influential novels of John Steinbeck. The American author was born in 1902 in Salinas, California in the United States. Salinas was a prosperous farming community in 1920’s .Therefore, the geography and demographics of Steinbeck’s place of origin greatly influenced Steinbeck’s novels and development of his characters who have a strong identification with land. Steinbeck developed strong interest in writing in early adolescence in high school and after that, he was enrolled at Stanford University in 1919 which gave him opportunity to sharpen his writing skills majoring in English. The author is widely known for writing novels including award winning The Grapes of Wrath written

Steinbeck believes that humans have to face the consequences of their actions and take many important responsibilities because humanity has to make decisions that can destroy or save the world. In Of Mice and Men, George faces the responsibility of taking care of Lennie because no one else would. When George talks to Slim about why he and Lennie travel together, and the things he has done to Lennie, George admits that he “‘beat the hell outta him, and he could bust every bone in my body jus’ with his han’s, but he never lifted a finger… well I ain’t done nothing like that no more” (Steinbeck 40).George knows that he has a tremendous responsibility of taking care of Lennie, because everything he does can affect Lennie’s wellbeing. That is why he states that he will never take advantage of Lennie again; George knows he has to be responsible for Lennie, or else it would be hard for either of them to survive. Steinbeck also illustrates ideas about responsibility in his speech. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Steinbeck declares that humanity’s capability of destroying or saving the world (alluding to the development of nuclear weapons) makes mankind “our greatest hazard and our only hope,” and in order to achieve what it hopes for, mankind must “seek for the responsibility and the wisdom we once prayed some deity might have.” Steinbeck demonstrates how responsibility and making the ethical choice allows mankind to have hope and faith in itself. On the other hand, Steinbeck knows that some people, especially those in power, will not make the right choice and will seize power over many. That is why he states that humanity has become both a hazard and a hope; mankind has the power to destroy itself, or to preserve and maintain peace. In both works, he believes that responsibility will allow people to make ethical decisions and help those in need. In the novel, he establishes the

In Attell’s essay An Overview of Of Mice and Men it is said that Steinbeck’s purpose is to show how life was during the Great Depression and how it affected the people. Attell stated that Steinbeck saw a problem between the people and the work place. He also stated that Steinbeck used the worker’s way of life in the Great Depression for George and Lennie. Finally Attell said that Steinbeck used Curley’s wife and crooks to show other problems during the Great Depression. This essay is about whether Attell’s points about Steinbeck’s purpose are right or wrong.

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck takes place during the Great Depression and is

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 Great Depression broke down security and belief in American society during the early 20th century and brought out hidden prejudices. The once optimistic mood during the Roaring 20’s turned to pain. The dire economic situation caused Americans to return to past social stigmas where certain groups of people were seen as inferior; as a result, the American Dream, where everyone could seek their ideal of success, was reduced to merely a dream. John Steinbeck observed these changes in social behavior and witnessed the plight of many Americans during the Great Depression. Like in his later work, The Grapes of Wrath, he was inspired by his environment to expose the lives of people during the Great Depression using Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck observed these changes in social behavior and witnessed the plight of many Americans during the Great Depression. Steinbeck demonstrates in Of Mice and Men through the characters that the American Dream was naturally discriminatory towards certain groups of people because of common perceptions held during that period.

     John Steinbeck wrote about what surrounded him. At the time he was writing, the nineteen-thirties, a great depression was plaguing the United States. Many people were out of work. Many farmers were losing their farms and homes. An extreme drought had also wrecked the farms of the Midwest and made them into what is now referred to as the "dust bowl". It was a terrible time to be poor, and most were. People died of malnutrition every day. In California, where Steinbeck resided, migrant workers dominated the workforce. Thousands traveled from all around to pick fruit in the farms of the Salinas Valley for minuscule wages. Thousands more could not find suitable