Monologue Of John Steinbeck
Kevin Fitzpatrick
English III
Mrs. Sawyer
22 March 2016
Plot: When writing Travels with Charley John Steinbeck was nearing the end of his career and was feeling “out of touch” with America during the 1960’s. In reaction to this he starts a trek across America as sort of a spiritual journey with his poodle companion Charley. The novel reads like travel fiction or a travelogue and is considered a novel due to many parts of the book being fictionalized yet still based on events that occurred on Steinbeck’s journey. Through this he touches on numerous themes that are relevant to the USA during the 60’s such as Race, War (specifically the Cold War), and what it means to be on a journey. John Steinbeck in the latter half of his career feels …show more content…
Never one for thorough physical description, what we know about Steinbeck is what we can infer by his interactions with himself through his thoughts and the interactions between him and the other characters. John Steinbeck at the time of writing this novel was very depressed, and it is said that one of the reasons he took the trip in real life is because he was aware of his advancing age and that this may well be the last time he sees the United States. This is indicated by his overt cynicism by many aspects of the United States at the time of the 60’s. John Steinbeck values nature and hard work, as he romanticizes the plight of the Canadian migrant workers and the natural beauty of New England and the Midwest. Parts of Steinbeck's cynicism can be traced back to his focus on masculinity and not taking the “easy route” as modern living tends to make many things easier. He makes his opinion known on masculine activities frequently, asking that “Somehow the hunting process has to do with masculinity, but I don't quite know how.”(45) All in all, Steinbeck is an older man sticking to the values he’s held as a novelist and a man for his whole life, and comparing them to modern day America. His thoughts are purveyed often through the wise dog
English III
Mrs. Sawyer
22 March 2016
Plot: When writing Travels with Charley John Steinbeck was nearing the end of his career and was feeling “out of touch” with America during the 1960’s. In reaction to this he starts a trek across America as sort of a spiritual journey with his poodle companion Charley. The novel reads like travel fiction or a travelogue and is considered a novel due to many parts of the book being fictionalized yet still based on events that occurred on Steinbeck’s journey. Through this he touches on numerous themes that are relevant to the USA during the 60’s such as Race, War (specifically the Cold War), and what it means to be on a journey. John Steinbeck in the latter half of his career feels …show more content…
Never one for thorough physical description, what we know about Steinbeck is what we can infer by his interactions with himself through his thoughts and the interactions between him and the other characters. John Steinbeck at the time of writing this novel was very depressed, and it is said that one of the reasons he took the trip in real life is because he was aware of his advancing age and that this may well be the last time he sees the United States. This is indicated by his overt cynicism by many aspects of the United States at the time of the 60’s. John Steinbeck values nature and hard work, as he romanticizes the plight of the Canadian migrant workers and the natural beauty of New England and the Midwest. Parts of Steinbeck's cynicism can be traced back to his focus on masculinity and not taking the “easy route” as modern living tends to make many things easier. He makes his opinion known on masculine activities frequently, asking that “Somehow the hunting process has to do with masculinity, but I don't quite know how.”(45) All in all, Steinbeck is an older man sticking to the values he’s held as a novelist and a man for his whole life, and comparing them to modern day America. His thoughts are purveyed often through the wise dog