In Pursuit of the Inner Hero

"Boileau said that Kings, Gods, Heroes only were fit subjects for literature. The writer can only write about what he admires. Present day Kings aren't very inspiring, the Gods have taken a vacation, and about the only heroes left are the scientists and the poor.... And since our race admires gallantry, the writer will deal with it where he finds it. He finds it in the struggling poor now." -John Steinbeck in a 1939 radio interview

Approaching the work of John Steinbeck is fairly difficult, seeing as there are wide-ranging opinions of his writing. But I think that most will agree with me when I say that whether you love or hate The Grapes of Wrath, it's pretty hard not to be opinionated about it. With this in mind, I think it's easy to see Steinbeck as a visionary, whose work speeks to us throughout the ages, despite his rather dry style of writing. Steinbeck approaches the two themes mentioned above throughout this novel, and I find them to be the centerpieces of the book. Heroes and Gallantry are what Steinbeck is investigating, and he does this in one of the most unique fashions ever displayed throughout the course of American literature.

Gallantry is indeed something that we admire. Gallant men and women hold a society together, are held in high esteem, and are supposed to have decent values. Though it is perhaps hard to see at first, Tom Joad is a gallant man. He sticks to his morals throughout this terrible plight, and unflinchingly stands by his family. Tom is a man who refuses to give in to the fate that so many others willingly suffer. I say willingly suffer, because Tom does not accept fate. Rather, he emerges as a sort of gallant victor, unlike Grampa and Granma Joad, who give up hope and die. I think the style of writing Steinbeck uses is reflective of one who has no one with which to share his passions and his inner demons. Steinbeck is literally conversing with the page in front of him, and the result is characters who embody his inner demons and passions. Perhaps Steinbeck is debating why he shouldn't just give up, and considering the circumstances it doesn't sound like a bad idea. But inside, an inner Tom Joad screams for life.

In the end, John Steinbeck concludes that the best decision is perseverance. He resolves to preserve his values, not just for his own benefit, but for the benefit of his fellow beings. John Steinbeck wants us to listen to our inner hero, and preserve decency so that the next Kings will be inspiring, the Gods will return from their extended vacation, and so that everyone may be a Hero. He presents us with hope and the overpowering will of a God. I feel that we should all be willing to become Gods in our own time. It is hard, but it is also possible to display these God-like qualities of gallantry and perseverance.

On a different note, I wish this book would have been assigned immediately after Gatsby. I feel that it give both books a greater impact when they are in chronological order. I was also reminded of the words of Neil Peart when reading this book and Gatsby at nearly the same time.

"Guide the future by the past/long ago the mold was cast/ for they marched up to bastille day/ the guillotine qlaimed her bloddy prize/ sing, o choirs of cacophony/ power isn't all that money buys"