The Octopus | Themes
Culture Clash
The Octopus appeared at a time when the character of American life was assumed to be defined by the opportunity for endless growth, symbolized by the millions of acres of hearty grain that grew abundantly from the country’s fertile soil. Literature has traditionally used California to represent the country’s growth potential because European settlers arrived on the eastern shores and expanded westward, making the west coast the last area to be developed. Whenever it seemed that America’s natural potential was in any danger of facing limitations,...
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