The Leader of the People (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: John Steinbeck
- First Published: 1936
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: The early twentieth century
- Setting: California
- Principal Characters: Jody Tiflin, Carl Tiflin, Ruth Tiflin, Grandfather
- Genres: Social realism, Short fiction
- Subjects: Family or family life, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, California, West, U.S., Storytelling, Ranches, ranchers, or ranching, Pacific Ocean, Frontier or pioneer life, Patience
- Locales: California
The Story
As Jody plays aimlessly near his family's ranch house, his dog's behavior causes him to look up and see his father coming down the road toward home carrying an object that appears to be a letter. Once inside the house, Carl Tiflin hands his wife, Ruth, a letter from her father, informing them that he will be coming to visit later that day. Noticing the unpleasant expression that appears on Carl's face, Ruth scolds him for his apparent resentment of her father's visit. He simply explains that the old man “talks.” Ruth tells her husband to be patient and at least...
[The entire page is 1232 words long]
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See Also:
John Steinbeck (Censorship--Ready Reference series)John Steinbeck (Cyclopedia of World Authors)John Steinbeck (Short Fiction)John Steinbeck (Long Fiction)John Steinbeck (Dictionary of World Biography)John Steinbeck (Identities and Issues)Theory of Short Fiction (Topical Overview--Short Fiction)