The harshest conditions of the first half of the twentieth century are portrayed with great power and veracity by one of the greatest American authors, John Steinbeck. Through his writings, Steinbeck is able to let the world visualize and comprehend the struggles of the poverty-stricken working man in such a way that the reader becomes part of the working man’s struggle to survive on a day-to-day basis. Because the plight of the working class …showed first 75 words of 2026 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2026 total…man owes something to man” and all of his novels are his “efforts to pay his debt to man” (Gray 50). Because Steinbeck’s novels deal with recurring issues, they are still studied today. His portrayal of the common man’s struggles is so raw and emotional that it influences the reader’s views on different economic classes. Steinbeck’s usage of Christianity, reality, and humanity in his novels leaves a lasting impression on the reader.