California Writers John Steinbeck: Native

California Writers

John Steinbeck: Native Son

John Steinbeck was one of the most influential writers of his time and his writing did a great deal to focus attention on the plight of migrant workers. Most were Mexican or Mexican-American or poor people from the mid-west who had been put off their farms. Middle class people in particular were really quite unaware of the terrible conditions under which they worked, due to the heavy propaganda campaign by the land owners. The accessibility of Steinbeck's language and his talent with character portrayal brought this theme close to the hearts of readers. Steinbeck's prestige as a writer gave him more credibility, making these novels very important in California's history.

In Dubious Battle is an early book about several members of the American Communist Party who try to help the workers who are picking apples in Torgas Valley. It follows the actions of Jim Nolan, a new member, and Mac Mcloud, a party organizer, as they stimulate a strike for better conditions, right after the orchard owners decree a 15 cent decrease in wages per box. The novel covers the methods of the party members and the owners association as they struggle over the strike. Steinbeck portrayed these people and their action very realistically, and we really understand their suffering, and identify with Jim and Mac, and even the doctor, who says he is only there, because he wants to watch. There is much violence, and Jim dies at the end, but his death and that of others works to the advantage of the party agitators and we get a definite feeling that the workers will benefit.

The Red Pony is a story about a boy on a farm with his father, and his colt, Gabilan, which was delivered caesarian after his father killed the mare. Jody learns hard lessons as his pony gets out in the rain and contracts pneumonia and dies. This novella or long short story is a little grisly and disturbing, but one of Steinbeck's most popular for its realism.

The Pearl is a story about a poor couple who find a "pearl of great price," and their troubles adjusting to the huge change it makes in their lives. This may be Steinbeck's most well-known work, though it is not Californian, but takes place in Mexico. It is often in the same book with The Red Pony.

The Grapes of Wrath is the story of the Joad family, who migrate in an old truck to California after losing their Oklahoma farm. This novel most impressed me with its descriptions, especially of the dust and the poverty. Some of the scenes, like the death of the turtle are really disturbing, but hold the interest of the reader on what seems to be something ordinary. The family endures many hardships on the way, only to discover that the living in Cakifornia will be just as hard. They work when they can picking crops, but agitators create a violent atmosphere, after wages are cut due to the overabundance of pickers. People are starving and the law is harsh with locked out strikers who fight with desperate workers who become "scabs." This is a forceful story about how a proud family survives, and about the humanity in even the meanest of men.

Of Mice and Men George and Lennie are brothers, and all they have is each other. Lennie is strong and mentally retarded. George is trying to take care of him. Lennie kills puppies, because he loves them too much and squeezes them too hard, and he kills a young women, Curly's wife, by accident, because he is trying to stop her from doing what he knows is wrong. Curly's wife comes to visit Lennie, attracted to his strength after he crushes Curly's hand. She gets scared when he strokes her hair and he accidentally breaks her neck trying to keep her quiet. George takes Lennie out to the field and tells him once more about the rabbits they will have when they buy their ranch, and when Lennie cannot see, George shoots him, killing him to save him from the trial and hanging which would surely follow. Everyone assumes George was defending himself. The people in this book are very real and Lennie is especially well done. This novel not only pointed out the plight of the poor, but also the problems of the mentally retarded. Lennie is totally peaceful, but his strength makes him an object for attack.

Steinbeck believed in the dignity of man and that people deserved to live decently. He was aware of the problems of poverty and saw poor people as equal to the rich. He favored socialist politics, though he toyed with communism for some time until he became disillusioned with the tactics employed. He was considered a radical by many. He used simple language and brilliant description to capture the characters of his stories, and influenced many writers who followed.