JOHN STEINBECK’S JOHN STEINBECK’S CALIFORNIACALIFORNIA

His Land and His PeopleHis Land and His People

A presentation by Jim Koenig

JOHN STEINBECKJOHN STEINBECK

Born (1902) and raised in Born (1902) and raised in Salinas, California, a small Salinas, California, a small farm town in the central farm town in the central part of the state, near the part of the state, near the coastcoast

Salinas Valley – a very Salinas Valley – a very fertile and productive fertile and productive farming regionfarming region

Steinbeck’s LandSteinbeck’s Land The California landscape is very much a part of his storiesThe California landscape is very much a part of his stories Steinbeck felt there was a bond between man and nature Steinbeck felt there was a bond between man and nature A person could only be understood in the context of the A person could only be understood in the context of the

environment that that person inhabitsenvironment that that person inhabits We are influenced by where we liveWe are influenced by where we live

Salinas Valley – “Salad Bowl of the Nation”

Young John developed a love of nature through his constant roaming in the Young John developed a love of nature through his constant roaming in the countryside around Salinas…countryside around Salinas…

Steinbeck’sLand

……and summer weekends on the and summer weekends on the nearby Monterey Peninsula...nearby Monterey Peninsula...

……on the Pacific.on the Pacific.

Steinbeck’s PeopleSteinbeck’s People

His characters were the people he knew growing His characters were the people he knew growing up and whom he worked alongside at odd jobsup and whom he worked alongside at odd jobs

His focus was the His focus was the commoncommon man – farm hands, man – farm hands, migrants, drifters, laborers, misfits – people who migrants, drifters, laborers, misfits – people who lived on the edges of polite societylived on the edges of polite society

He was sympathetic toward the poor, the weak He was sympathetic toward the poor, the weak and defenseless, the lonely and dispossessedand defenseless, the lonely and dispossessed

Steinbeck’s people – the localsSteinbeck’s people – the locals

In Dubious Battle

Tortilla Flat

OF MIC

E AND M

ENCANNERY ROW

Steinbeck’s people – the migrantsSteinbeck’s people – the migrants In 1938, he was hired to write a series of In 1938, he was hired to write a series of

articles on the plight of poor migrants articles on the plight of poor migrants coming to California from the “Dust Bowl” coming to California from the “Dust Bowl” during the Great Depressionduring the Great Depression

Steinbeck interviewed, observed, traveled Steinbeck interviewed, observed, traveled and lived with the migrants who endured and lived with the migrants who endured crushing poverty and prejudicecrushing poverty and prejudice

However, the articles had little impact on However, the articles had little impact on public opinion public opinion

Steinbeck decided to write his next novel Steinbeck decided to write his next novel about their struggle…about their struggle…

They came with nothing…except hope.

They hoped to findwork in the golden land - California.

The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath - 1939 - 1939

Novel was a best sellerNovel was a best seller Won Pulitzer Prize, 1940Won Pulitzer Prize, 1940 Very controversial – was highly Very controversial – was highly

praised praised andand viciously condemned viciously condemned Brought Brought national attentionnational attention to the to the

plight of migrants in Californiaplight of migrants in California Hollywood movie, 1940Hollywood movie, 1940

– Academy Award: John Ford - Best DirectorAcademy Award: John Ford - Best Director

The EndThe End