Thursday, August 5, 2010
multicultural novel?
Some of Steinbeck's ethnic and racial characterizations are loaded with stereotype. Yet he also makes extremely prescient comments about the role that many races played in the building of America, and he takes the time to give dignity to all types of persons. Lee is one example of a character that constantly subverts expectations. Can you think of other scenes or characters that might have challenged conventional notions in Steinbeck's time? In ours? How unusual do you think it might have been to write about America as a multicultural haven in the 1950s? And do you agree that that is what Steinbeck does, or do you think he reveals a darker side to American diversity?
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In that time it was much harder to find a women who had a high level of education. Olive Hamilton was the only women mentioned to have some education. Olive was a teacher, and this was what most women with high education ended up being because it was the most "suitable" job for a woman. Abra was always regarded as a very intelligent young girl who had a thirst for knowledge. She would go to Lee sometimes and discuss things about books and so on. This was quite rare and I believe for that reason Steinbeck didn't go on to say what became of her or what career she was going to study for, since he might have had no idea what other careers would be suitable for women. I don't believe that Steinbeck described America as a multicultural haven, but he did say that it was quite appealing for foreigners to come since it was a rich nation.
ReplyDeleteAnother person I feel would be suited for this topic would be Samuel Hamilton. When his character was introduced into the story, he told Adam of his hardships he had faced because he was an Irish Immigrant. Samuel felt like he was always looked down upon just because he was Irish up until he was able to become a respected blacksmith. For me I feel like Steinbeck incorporated these stereotypes of certain people in order to help, and not hurt. It seems as though he was trying to say to his readers “everybody should be treated equally, nobody is better than anybody else.” For me, it seemed he really drove this idea home with the reveal of Lee able to speak perfect English. Although, the only reason he didn’t speak like that all the time, was because of these stereotypes that were perpetuated to a point where he had no choice but to speak pidgin.
ReplyDeleteIn East of Eden, I think that Cal is one of the more stereotyped characters. He has been set up with this evil mother, the good brother, and expectational father. Put in his situation, most people would have the natural inclination to rebel. Cal tries his best to change his ways. Working against a stereotype can be difficult. For example, when he gives his father money and his father is outraged; if it had been Aron giving the money, his father most likely would have accepted it gladly. I think Steinbeck covered this area very well.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed to me that in the 1950's, American was quite the multicultural haven though not in the most respectable way. People in American who were any other race but white diffidently were heavily stereotyped. Weather they were Irish or Chinese, they all were looked at with a certain opinion as if they were from a different planet.
ReplyDeleteLee is first to mind when i think of people being stereotyped. The way he had to pretend he knew of nothing that was going on around him because he was Chinese. Having to speak in improper English when it was apparent to Samuel that he could speak just as well if not better then any American. In a way, this stereotype does reveal a darker side to Americans back in Steinbecks time, but he also reveal how far we have come from all the racism and hatred among other cultures.