Considered to be one of the most influential writers of modern American literature, John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California in 1902 to a former school teacher and the manager of a flour mill. Salinas was a very large farming community that had its own shipping and trading center for the whole Californian valley. Throughout his life, Steinbeck was constantly inspired by his surroundings, such as life as an American soldier when he was a war correspondent during World War II. One of his most famous and best-selling books, “East of Eden”, revolves around the fictional Hamilton family, which he created based on his own ancestors. “Of Mice and Men”, another famous work of literature by Steinbeck, was influenced by the labor issues in 1930s …show more content…
The narrator, Samuel Hamilton, is described very similarly to the author himself, while other characters such as Cal and Aron Trask drawing similarities to the biblical Cain and Abel. Steinbeck creates an ambitious approach, as the theme is derived from a more religious background—something he would rarely, if ever, use in his writing. The author includes himself as the narrator in the story indirectly, because it is easier to describe the landscape of the Californian valley first-hand. When documenting the writing process of East of Eden, which was later published as “Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters”, he said this about his sons: “…And so I will tell them one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest story of all—the story of good and evil, of strength and weakness, of love and hate, of beauty and ugliness… I shall tell them this story against the background of the county I grew up in.” (National Steinbeck …show more content…
In the midst of the Great Depression, he created a fictional story, “Of Mice and Men” based upon the then-current status of America. During his time as a war correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune, he wrote letters home to his wife, only to publish them in a collection titled “Once There Was a War”. This collection described his perspective on the Second World War, as well as showing the reader his general interest and fascination with ordinary, everyday people. John has based many pieces of literature upon his home of Salinas Valley, California, including the widely-known “East of
East of Eden by John Steinbeck is an optimistic film about a boy becoming a man and trying desperately to earn the love of his father and mother in the troubled times of the Great Depression. Cal, the main character is a troubled teen who lives with his entrepreneur father, and a brother who is following closely in his fathers steps. Cal’s mother left him and his brother to become a madam of a whorehouse. The struggle takes place between Cal and his father due to his fathers lack of compassion for his son. The conflict rises further when Cal tries to help his father repay a debt, his father further isolates his son and this turns to violent outbursts. Steinbeck focuses on Cal in order to suggest the theme that without love people become violent and mean.
Throughout the novel, East of Eden, John Steinbeck puts forth many literary techniques in the book to make it utterly vivid. His defined techniques of writing allow the reader to unveil the author’s intentions. Steinbeck’s usage of allegories and alliteration through metaphoric language effectively creates a style that is certain to captivate an audience.
The characteristics of people are formed by multiple factors. In many situations, children are raised under similar conditions, however, their later characteristics and life choices are very different. In the book, East of Eden, author John Steinbeck explores the development of humans, from childhood, to adulthood, and eventually, to death. East of Eden, by John Steinbeck, is a genealogical novel about the lives of the Trasks, particularly the main character in the book, Adam Trask. Along the way, the Hamiltons, Ames, and many other characters are introduced. Steinbeck makes a point of showing the continually changing nature of some characters, while describing the ceaseless staticness of others. In East of Eden, John Steinbeck presents his views on the construction of human behavior and the components that are incorporated in it.
In Steinbeck’s East of Eden he is constantly using single characters to illustrate many differen...
John Steinbeck is a brilliant storyteller capable of crafting such vibrant and captivating literary works that one can effortlessly exit their own life and enter another. John Steinbeck has a passion for divulging the flaws of human nature and he is not afraid to write about the raw and tragic misfortune that plagued the lives of people like the Okies in the Grapes of Wrath and residents of Cannery Row. He was also a brilliant commentator who contributed brilliant opinions on the political and social systems in our world. In heart wrenching words he tells us the story of peoples lives, which were full of love, corruption, faith and growth. However in the novels of Cannery Row and The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck specifically attempts to convey the thematic elements of socialism, survival and the role of women to blatantly present the lifestyle of down trodden migrant workers and the diverse ecosystem of prostitutes, marine biologists, store owners and drunks in a way that is unapologetic and mentally stimulating.
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.
Born 1902 in California, John Steinbeck grew up in a hard time for America. The Great Depression hit in 1929, leaving thousands of American people jobless, homeless, and poor. Along with this, the Dust Bowl occurred in 1931, which also killed and starved thousands. During this time period, many people did not have a home, and moved from farm to farm in order to feed themselves. John Steinbeck was one of the hundreds of thousands of migrant farm workers during this time. All of Steinbeck’s books are based off of American history, and migrant farm workers in the eyes of the people. In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck uses the characters Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife to contribute to the overall theme of loneliness.
Steinbeck uses the biblical story of Cain and Abel in East of Eden to show us that we do not have set fate. Steinbeck uses the Hebrew word “timshel”, which means “thou mayest”, to suggest that man has the ability to choose good or evil. “Timshel” affects the characters in East of Eden such as Cal and Aron and their choice of overcoming good or evil. Steinbeck sees this novel as his most important work, and he uses it as a way to state his personal ideas concerning mankind:“The free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.”(Steinbeck,132). Steinbeck shows God has given humans free will and their ability to choose good or evil, if they so decide. He portrays the “C” characters to be connected to Cain, such as Charles and Cal and the “A” characters to be connected to Abel, such as Aron and Adam.
Cathy Ames makes choices based on how much it benefits her, and if it ensures that she will prosper from the choice, even if that means destroying everyone else in the process. It appears “that Cathy… was born with tendencies, or lack of them, which drove her and forced her all of her life” (Steinbeck 72). Most humans have natural instincts that allow them to function in a civil society together. Cathy is different, however, and distinct since birth. She plans and decides things unlike how the rest of society does. A chance encounter between the gray James Grew and Cathy leads to one of Cathy’s first evil actions. Nothing happens until Cathy meets him and “[f]or a time it was noticed that a flame leaped in James Grew… and then the flame went out” (Steinbeck 79).
A famous writer by the name of John Steinbeck, who was also born in California, is the
In "The Grapes of Wrath", Steinbeck takes a great leap forward in his storytelling. His characters are better developed and more human. Steinbeck's development as a writer was linked to his growth as a person and his furthered capacity for understanding in others, particularly the disenfranchised. The process and struggle that ensued during the early years of his career were instrumental in his growth and are demonstrated in the development of his views on industrialization and it's effects on the working class.
Steinbeck got the inspiration to write this book in the summer of 1922 through his experience at Spreckels Sugar Company Ranch. He worked there with Filipino and Mexican labor. The landscape of the book was familiar to where he worked. He worked in an oasis type river and renamed the location to a place called Soledad which meant solitude (Hays)...
John Steinbeck’s use of figurative language and local color in Cannery Row, Sweet Thursday and Of Mice and Men show his growth as a writer and highlight the reoccurring theme of loneliness and ostracism. The time gap in between these books show that Steinbeck grows as he experiences more throughout his life. Steinbeck’s novels are always set in California due to his extensive knowledge of the area since he has lived in the area his entire life. In all of his works the characters use parts of speech and actions that are customary to that area.
One of the characters in East of Eden who's actions support timshel is Adam Trask. Adam is a representation of good in the novel. He is the Abel of the modern day biblical story of Cain and Abel and his brother Charles represents Cain. Adam has just had a fight with his stronger and angrier brother Charles. Charles beats Adam to a bloody pulp, enraged that their father Cyrus, loves Adam more than him. Adam hides when Charles comes back with a hatchet and the intention of killing his brother. When Adam drags himself home, at the sight of Adam all bloody and hurt Cyrus is fuming: "You'll have to tell me. I'll make you tell me! Go...
Steinbeck, John. Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters. 1969. New York: Penguin,