... he threw it from him, back up on the bank, near the pile of old ashes." This excerpt from and the climax of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is one which demonstrates the complexity and power of a moral and social force over an ordinary man. Throughout Steinbeck's novels and stories, he generally portrayed working-class characters who were controlled or manipulated by forces beyond their understanding or control. He isn't saying ... agricultural workers in California's fertile valley (Millichap 3157). From this idea the design for The Grapes of Wrath emerged, which follows one family from Ok...

• Word Count: 1220
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate