Special Prompts
You are reading, and your sibling asks you, "hey, what's that book about?"
Write a detailed response to your sibling, including at least one lesson someone could learn about life by reading it.
It is about two different families, the Hamilton's and the Trask's. And their lives in the valley. You could learn about life in the old times
Consider Charles' will: it stipulates that half of Charles' money should go to Cathy.
Why do you think Charles included this stipulation instead of giving it all to Adam? What does it suggest about his relationships with the both of them?
Charles included this stipulation, because he thought that Adam and Cathy might have still been together.
Charles wants to help his brother by also helping his wife.
Find a quote/passage from Ch. 32-33 that helps reveal the close bond shared between Tom and Dessie.
Then discuss: in what ways do they complicate the novel's depiction of sibling relationships? BONUS (100pts): Which Hamilton brother inadvertently contributes to Tom's deep depressive state?
"Tom and Dessie, fingertips touching, were doing a courtly heel-and-toe while he sang Doodle-Doodle-doo and Dessie sang Deedle-deedle-dee, and they embraced again." (Steinbeck 393)
Tom and Dessie don't seem to argue, and enjoy each other.
How does the info we receive about Charles' last 12 years without Adam contribute to our understanding of his symbolic connections to Cain? Have these connections held strong? (p. 371-372)
Like Cain, Charles was alone and working in isolation. Like Cain having to wonder the earth.
Why do you think Tom is looked down upon by Will for writing poetry? (p. 392)
Because back then reading/ writing books wasn't valued much. And people valued more hard work, and business.
Grab a blank sheet of paper. Collaborate to draw a quick sketch of Cathy/Kate during the moments following Adam's most recent departure from the brothel (p. 385, paragraph starting with "Kate sat down and stared...")
Add a thought bubble which contains her likely thoughts after being psychoanalyzed by Adam.
Kate was sitting down crying with her first beating on the white cloth. She was shaking and was experiencing something as strong as rage but felt like sorrow.
We've noted some similarities between Cal and Charles... but what similarities does Cal share with a young Adam?
Find a quote that represents Cal's similarities to Adam. (100 bonus pts. per additional quote)
Sympathetic for their brother.
"And in his mind he cried, "Don't let me be mean."(Steinbeck 380)
Relate Lee's character to the concept/theme of duality of man. How does his outward persona conflict with his truest motivations?
BONUS (+100): What might Steinbeck be trying to argue through this conflicting aspect of Lee's character?
Lee tries to put up a front, like how men try to be someone or something they aren't to feel better.
Bonus:
Hes trying to fit the expectation of who people think he should be.
Which side does Steinbeck seem to lean towards regarding the nature vs. nurture argument, based on the novel so far? (BONUS: do you agree?)
Steinbeck leans more towards the fact that it was natural for Cathy to be evil. That she had always been this way. Rather than it nurturing overtime.
I don't agree. I feel like it was really untreated mental illness.
Tom blames himself for Dessie's death, calling it a 'murder' in his own head (408).
Do you agree or disagree with his estimation? Explain.
He did kill her, but it was a complete accident. So I disagree, and all he was doing was trying to help. It would be manslaughter.
Imagine that Charles had been sending letters to Adam throughout the 11 years between Adam's move and Charles' death... but each letter got lost somehow.
From Charles' POV, write a theoretical final letter to Adam.
I wish you and your wife the best. The farm has been quiet, and boring. Most part that I'm sick. I do not think I will get better. Maybe this letter will find you, or maybe it wont.
Near the end of Part 3, it is revealed that Adam is buying Dessie's house in Salinas... where Kate owns her brothel.
Aron does not yet know that she is still alive. Make a prediction: if Aron finds out, how could his relationship with Adam be affected?
Aron will end up having a lot of remorse towards Adam for lying to him for so long. That his mom has been out there for his whole life. But maybe this would give Adam the time to tell the truth. Hopefully Aron would understand.
Do Steinbeck's portrayals of women so far align with modern portrayals of women in media and/or literature? Provide reasons for the yes and/or no side.
No, because I feel like a lot of them have been portrayed as annoying or evil. Personally I would hope we aren't like that. But Dessie was a nice character. But also yes, because the media is always focused on a women's physical features instead of them personally.
What does Ch. 29 (the chapter about Adam learning how to turn on his new Ford) suggest about Steinbeck's views about modernity's promise to make the world better?
Modernity will improve the world by showing more ways to travel and explore.
Remember Timshel, the Hebrew word for "thou mayest", which Lee determined represents humans' choice to conquer sin.
Where does Tom fall on a hypothetical spectrum of whether or not he embodies Lee's idea, and how do we know? (Use p. 407-410.)
finish later