A Human Symphony of Dreams: John Steinbeck's Fiction if the Thirties

• Main Authors: Yu, Hui-Mei, 郁慧玫
• Other Authors: Patricia Haseltine
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 1996
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/35483990772611001658

碩士 === 靜宜大學 === 外國語文研究所 === 84 === The thirties are generally acknowledged as the most successful years in John Steinbeck's writing career; as a matter of fact, this period of American history with all the social, economic, and natural problems no doubt offers the best background for the writer to interpret his thought on the interaction between human beings' existence and their environment. Through the discussion of the idea dream, a dominant motif in Steinbeck's works, this thesis intends to present how the writer defines human beings' position in the world and how he gives the concept of dream significance in human experience. In my study of The Red Pony, Of Mice and Men, and The Grapes of Wrath, I recognize that there is a development from I, the self, to the whole in Steinbeck's thought on the significance of dream. It is for a better life that Steinbeck dreams, but this better life is for the progress of humanity, instead of for personal interests. When the material dream seems to be impossible to be fulfilled in the time of difficulties, it is the spiritual success--being able to dream, being able to fight for dream fulfillment, being able to love others as them- selves, and, the most important, being able to recognize themselves as part of whole--that Steinbeck's heroes achieve. Hence, in his search for the possibi- lity of dream fulfillment, Steinbeck has discovered hope and beauty in human nature and human action. Moreover, with his belief in "the perfectibility of man." John Steinbeck certainly has created a truly humane fictional world.