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Steinbeck

            John Steinbeck is said to be one of the most famous American author of the 1930's. The 1930's were very difficult years for America. The stock market crashed creating the Great Depression of America's economy and the agriculture was destroyed during the Dust Bowl. These were such pivotal points in history. Steinbeck is such a phenomenal author because of his extraordinary ability to capture a reader in his work by making them feel like they are actually there. For his talent of expressing the lives of the American people in literature, he was presented the Noble Prize in 1962.
             Steinbeck grew up in California and many of his novels were set there. His works are based upon the issues of the time and setting. His novels "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men" are cored around migrant farm workers in California that are affected by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Many of his novels are about society's lowest class during the 30's, in which he sympathizes with them. Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for his novel, "The Grapes of Wrath". This novel is about a poor Oklahoma family traveling to California to find a new life during this difficult era. The entire nation was in ruins and felt the impact. This novel was inspired by a series of articles he wrote for the San Francisco News.
             The 30's was a period of Depression. The stock market crash destroyed the economy, affecting all Americans. Many businesses were forced to shut down and banks closed down with the loss of many people's money. As result of the depression a large majority of the population lost their jobs and homes. Families were separated and destroyed during this time. It was very hard to find jobs and aid the financial issues of the American people. The oncoming war would soon take America out of this Depression.
             Also during this time there was an agricultural crisis. This became known as the Dust Bowl.


Essays Related to Steinbeck

1. The Life and Works of John Steinbeck

... he then married Gwyndolyn Conger, which lasted about five years. His last wife, Elaine Anderson, lasted for eighteen years (Hinds 87). When Steinbeck was older he developed many interests that developed from many friends in literature. He took a great interest in philosophy and had many conversations with ... people about it constantly. He took a great interest to science, specifically marine biology along with his friend Ed Ricketts (Hughes 45). Steinbeck attended Salinas elementary school and was advanced when compared to the other students in his class in literature. In high school, a...

  • Word Count: 1462
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

2. John Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men

... young men were forced to lug heavy surveying equipment up steep hillsides through wiry brush and prickly scrub. The food was rotten, and-according to Steinbeck-there were rattlesnakes to sidestep and poison oak to avoid (Parini 26)." The two college boys lasted only a few weeks, when they quit ... smooth things over, got them easier (and lower-paying) jobs as maintenance men at the Spreckels (sugar) plant in Salinas (Parini 26). "Steinbeck's association with his father's old company, Spreckels, continued over the next few years, during summers and long drop-out periods. While cultivating ...

  • Word Count: 1322
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography

3. East of Eden by John Steinbeck

... was the sole vindication that generated the jealousy and animosity between both sets of brothers and caused them to "develop a bitter rivalry" (Steinbeck in the Schools n.pag). In the Bible, this jealousy is enough to motivate Cain to kill Abel. Even though this does not happen in East ... brother and takes her in. Adam, unaware and unquestioning of this woman's origin and past, falls in love with her and marries her. However, Steinbeck has already introduced this woman, Cathy Ames, and the reader is already conscious of her devious pursuits. Cathy was responsible for driving a grown man ...

  • Word Count: 2130
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Steinbeck

... of the frontier. His grandfather migrated to California straight from Ireland, and his father moved there from Florida at the time of the Civil War. Steinbeck's father, John Ernst, Sr., was the treasurer of Monterey County for many years and was also a miller. His mother, Olive Hamilton, taught at ... in a sugar beat factory, and even helped in the construction of Madison Square Garden. After a couple more tries at getting some his work published Steinbeck returned to California in order to write his first novel. He worked at a Lake Tahoe Lodge, because that meant he would have plenty o...

  • Word Count: 1379
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. John Steinbeck

... ). Another novel and play, The Moon Is Down (1942), about the German invasion of Norway, won critical praise. After World War II, in which he served as a war correspondent, Steinbeck wrote increasingly about social outcasts. Cannery Row (1945) relates the story of a group of vagabonds on the Monterey coast. The Wayward Bus (1947) presents a morality tale about characters who supposedly ... represent middle-class society. Burning Bright (1950) preached universal brotherhood but was largely unsuccessful. Steinbeck devoted several years to his most ambitious project, East of Eden (1952; fil...

  • Word Count: 1312
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Steinbeck, The Author From California

... of the frontier. His grandfather migrated to California straight from Ireland, and his father moved there from Florida at the time of the Civil War. Steinbeck's father, John Ernst, Sr., was the treasurer of Monterey County for many years and was also a miller. His mother, Olive Hamilton, taught at ... in a sugar beat factory, and even helped in the construction of Madison Square Garden. After a couple more tries at getting some his work published Steinbeck returned to California in order to write his first novel. He worked at a Lake Tahoe Lodge, because that meant he would have plenty o...

  • Word Count: 1424
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Travels With Charley by John Steinbeck

... seem that his claims are too outlandish and disconnected if not for his travel companion Charley, who remains a constant throughout the book. Steinbeck uses Charley as an asset to balance his themes with someone the reader can relate to. By being an intelligent travel companion, helping connect ... their irrational hatred. Charley's reflectiveness and human-like intelligence provide a contrast between his own character and that of the racist man and further Steinbeck's argument that racism is a fundamental problem in the American identity. In the event of personal reflection, Charley's ...

  • Word Count: 885
  • Approx Pages: 4

8. John Steinbeck

... . John grew up in the Monterey Bay region, and later used this region for many of his fiction novels. In 1920 Steinbeck left his home and went to Stanford University. John attended Stanford from 1920-1926, but failed to earn a degree. After Steinbeck left Stanford he went to New York City and wrote for the "American," but soon returned to California. (John ... Dubious Battle," this story dealt with the strikes of migratory fruit pickers on California plantations. Steinbeck's next novel, " Of Mice and Men," in 1937 became his first big success. Steinbeck followed " Of Mice and Men," with ...

  • Word Count: 402
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. steinbeck's struggles

... were the migrants forced to leave their land because of the Dust Bowl. The author also describes what became of the migrants who were represented by the Joads. 2. Coers analyzes Steinbeck's The Moon is Down and how it affected Nazi occupied Europe. Coers writes about the reception of the novel in America, France, Holland, and Denmark. Also, dissucussed is the ... at society was offset by his faith and love for the land and its people. Critics say that The Grapes of Wrath best shows Steinbeck's philosophy perception and impact. 4. "Proletarian Leanings" describes themes from Steinbeck's ...

  • Word Count: 715
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

10. Biography of John Steinbeck

... his lifetime he was married three times and had two children with his second wife Gwendolyn; two boys by the names of Thomas and John Steinbeck. John Steinbeck was a man that most people in the world respected; yet he was disgraced and not welcome in his own hometown. This next part will ... family home in Pacific Grove. His father helped support the struggling couple through their rough times. Carol Henning was to be the first of three wives Steinbeck had throughout his lifetime, being that this marriage would 12 years later in 1942. In 1932, his novel, "The Pastures of Heaven" became ...

  • Word Count: 1322
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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