The Winter Of Our Discontent Steinbeck Analysis

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In The Winter of our Discontent by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck discusses what the American dream meant for families in the 1960s. There are a few things involved in defining the American dream such as being happily married, having children, having a nice house of your own, and making a decent amount of money. Virtue, honesty, loyalty and equality. These elements represent values that exist in American society. However, these morals are undermined as Americans become more concerned with material wealth, than with the well-being of others. John Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent examines the negative aspects of America's cash-crazed society, and how the acquisition of wealth does not always lead to happiness.
Ethan Allen Hawley, a man of moral convictions, finds he is caught …show more content…

In his hometown, money grubbers such as Mr. Baker now walk the streets of a place once dominated by noble Aunt Deborahs and old Capn's. Although he hates to admit it, Ethan notices that the people of New Baytown are more interested in earning money than the well-being of each other. As he sees with the treatment of the once prominent Danny Taylor, people reject those who do not comply with society's standards for wealth. Fearing that he too will be tossed aside, Ethan mutters the rhetoric of Shakespeare; that "now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this son of York" (Steinbeck 157). The phrase “winter of our discontent” is a metaphor used to describe sadness. Ethan speaks about a winter of discontent because he feels the jaws of a dishonest society attempting to eat away at his core values, that is honesty and integrity. When his employer, Alfio Marullo, attempts to get Ethan to save money at the expense of customers, Ethan claims he does not chisel people just to earn a profit. Marullo explains that exploiting customers is good business, for

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