Sample Details
Subjects
Literature
Poems
Type
Essay
Reviewed by
IvyPanda Team
Pages
2
Words
542
Facts about Topic
The Grapes of Wrath
Author
John Steinbeck
Type
Political Novel
Genre
Epic, Realistic Fiction
Written
California, 1939
Published
1939
Tone
Passionate, Enraged, Sad, Desperate
Tense
Past
Point of View
Third-person Omniscient
Themes
Ravages of Industrialization,
The Conflicts between the Haves and the Have-nots,
People’s Reactions to Injustices,
The Strength of a Woman,
Power of Family,
Hope
Characters
Jim Casy,
Ma Joad,
Muley Graves,
Pa Joad,
Rose of Sharon,
Tom Joad,
Uncle John
Symbols
Birth and Death of Baby,
Dustbowl,
The Joads' Dog,
Blood,
Route 66
Motifs
The Ideas of Family,
Togetherness and Community,
Class Struggle
End
After a flood, the Joads seek refuge in a barn where they find a starving man and his son. Rose of Sharon, who recently gives birth to a stillborn baby feeds the starving man of her milk
Extra Facts
1) The book was banned in the Soviet Union
2) Steinbeck was inspired by visits to labor camps before writing 'The Grapes of Wrath'
3) 'The Grapes of Wrath' gave Route 66 its nickname
Of Mice and Men
Author
John Steinbeck
Type
Novel
Genre
Fiction, Tragedy
Written
California, 1930s
Published
1937
Tone
Tragic, Honest, Sentimental, Realistic
Tense
Past
Point of View
Third-person Omniscient
Themes
Concept of Hopes and Dreams,
a Dog-eat-dog World,
Men’s Companionship,
Innocence
Characters
Aunt Clara,
Candy,
Carlson,
Crooks,
Curley’s Wife,
Curley,
George Milton,
Lennie Small,
Slim,
Whit
Symbols
The Mice,
The Dream Farm,
The Pool,
Rabbits,
Candy’s Dog,
Lennie’s Puppy
Motifs
Loneliness,
Strength and Weakness
End
Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife. George spares Lennie from Curley's wrath by shooting Lennie in the back of the head after reciting their shared dream of owning a farm one final time
Extra Facts
1) The original title was 'Something That Happened'
2) Lennie was based on a real person
3) Steinbeck’s dog ate the first draft of 'Of Mice and Men'
4) The novel immediately became a bestseller selling over 7 million edition

Steinbeck and Babb: Shaping American Literature Essay

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Overview

Steinbeck and Babb played a great role in shaping the literature of America. Although the authors were not recognized significantly during the past, their ideologies are relevant to the modern society. Steinbeck was an activist who wrote many books about the struggle between people who are poor and the rich ones.

However, researchers and authors have questioned the originality of his work because they speculate that he copied Babb’s stories. On the others hand, Babb was a determined writer who faced harsh experiences during her childhood, education life and employment. She is recognized for collecting authentic books based on participatory observations.

Situation in California

While seeking to articulate the situation in California, Steinbeck wrote a famous book known as ‘Grapes of Wrath’. On the other hand, Babb focused on similar issues and wrote a book that was titled ‘Whose Names are Unknown’. In the two books, Steinbeck and Babb wrote about the plight of migrants in Oklahoma and California.

They focused on the miserable conditions which dust bowl’s migrants experienced in Oklahoma and California. The authors described how the migrants pursued their rights from the relevant authorities. Steinbeck based his story on non-participatory observations where he visited migrants’ camps and interviewed the migrants.

On the other hand, Babb was employed as an assistant manager of FSA where she observed how the migrants were treated in a direct way. This implies that she had firsthand information about the treatment of migrants. As a result, her book focused equally on the oppression of migrant workers. While evaluating the plight of migrant workers, the authors adopted different stances which portrayed similarities and differences.

Similarity and Differences of Perspective

Similarities

The two authors suggested that migrant oppression was a barbaric act that portrayed recklessness. They condemned this oppression for propagating inhumanity. Babb stated that the California’s labor system exploited the workers heartlessly. Furthermore, she contended that the system in California was abusive and desperate.

Also, she suggested that oppression of migrants was a show of human greed where the crop owners never cared about the welfare of the colleagues. Lastly, she stated that the oppression was a source of unending pain. On the other hand, Steinbeck argued that the system forced the migrants to live in miserable conditions.

In fact, it was evident that author was very outraged by the treatment of migrants. This was portrayed when he stated that the migrants who worked for cash crop growers were treated in a discriminatory and brutal manner.

He revealed that the cash crop growers blamed the migrants for laziness without any justification. Finally, he stated that the authorities could have treated the migrants properly by providing them with the basic needs.

Difference in Perspective

The differences between Steinbeck and Babb emerged during evaluation of the dispossession that happened in 1930. Steinbeck articulated the issues in a figurative manner by describing the Okies as people who had a lot of essence. On the other hand, Babb portrayed a humanistic perspective by arguing that the world should be defined by human relationships.

She suggested that the migrants were neighbors who shared the same destiny with all human beings. Therefore, she argued that the migrants should not have been treated wrongly. Instead, they should have been treated humanely regardless of their origin or financial status.

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IvyPanda. (2019) 'Steinbeck and Babb: Shaping American Literature'. 19 April.

References

IvyPanda. 2019. "Steinbeck and Babb: Shaping American Literature." April 19, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/steinbeck-and-babb-essay/.

1. IvyPanda. "Steinbeck and Babb: Shaping American Literature." April 19, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/steinbeck-and-babb-essay/.


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IvyPanda. "Steinbeck and Babb: Shaping American Literature." April 19, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/steinbeck-and-babb-essay/.

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