John Steinbeck Group

Question:

princeone
princeone
Student
Community / Jr. College

In The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, how does John Steinbeck see the humble Man?

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Posted by princeone on Tuesday May 26, 2009 at 4:40 PM and tagged with of mice and men, the grapes of wrath, themes.


Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    The characters in both novels, those who are both poor and homeless yet not hopeless, were treated with great sympathy and respect by Steinbeck. These were his portrayals of those in American life who live on the fringe of society--powerless, exploited, and unacknowledged. In them, however, Steinbeck found courage, compassion, endurance, selflessness, and dignity. The dramatic--and some would say shocking--conclusion of each of these novels speaks to these qualities. Steinbeck's homeless are humble people of humble means, but they embody the best aspects of the human spirit. 

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    Posted by mshurn on Wednesday May 27, 2009 at 10:00 PM