Story about John Steinbeck - Essay Example

John Steinbeck:Life, Work and Books. John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in California and he had an interest in science since he studied marine biologyat university (Gray, 2004, p. 497). He wrote a number of stories about ordinary people, especially farmers, and their struggle to make a living from the land. His two most famous books are novels, entitled Of Mice and Men (1937) and The Grapes of Wrath (1939). Both of these books are about the terrible time of the Great Depression, and the sufferings of workers who could not find jobs.

These stories use images from the Bible, showing how God can at times appear to be angry and distant, and also many images from American history. The struggle of the farmers in the Great Depression is like a repeat of the journeys that the first pioneers made, to conquer the land and build a new life for their families. At this later time, however, there are human oppressors too, like the greedy bosses who exploit poor farmers and workers in order to make money. These books by John Steinbeck are very important in American history because they capture the spirit of that time, and even though they are at times tragic, they maintain a hopeful attitude, and show how families can overcome even the worst disasters.

Steinbeck died in 1968 and his works have become classics which are studied in schools and colleges across the world. He is remembered for his great humanity and compassion, and his understanding of the political and economic pressures that make life so difficult for poor people. ReferenceGray, Richard. A History of American Literature. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2004, pp. 497-500.