The Evolution of SteinbeckIn "The Grapes of Wrath", Steinbeck takes a great step forward in his narrative. His characters are better developed and more human. Steinbeck's development as a writer was tied to his growth as a person and his greater understanding of others, particularly the underprivileged. The trial and struggle that followed during the early years of his career were instrumental in his growth and are demonstrated in the development of his views on industrialization and its effects on the working class. His increased understanding seemed to lead to the end of his theological approach. to writing, or at least to a modification of it. Because with greater understanding came empathy, and with empathy came subjectivity. With the distance between him and his characters, it became possible to identify with them on a deeper level. They were more true to life than the characters in his previous novels. When Steinbeck managed to cross this line, he made a leap from the realm of good writers to the Valhalla of great authors. This is when Steinbeck gets into people. Few people were unfamiliar with the likes of Tom Joad or Mack. (A Joseph was much harder to find.) In his previous books, works like “To an Unknown God” and “In a Doubtful Battle,” Steinbeck delved into the ideologically driven man. Far from "down to earth," the characters in these books were motivated by what could be. As speculative creatures, they were guided by the mind's eye. Even though Joseph lived for the land, he never got to be part of it (at least in the way of the everyday farmer). Like any man who has walked through the corridors of formal education, Steinbeck himself was a man of... .. middle of paper ......"employable." Dr. Kelly posed the question, “what if World War II had not intervened and brought the United States out of the Great Depression?” At what point are market ills controlled? Time will tell. Without a common enemy, where is the unifying cause to organize? What will bring people together? Once people are driven by hunger, it seems like it's too late. Hunger is desperate and helpless, without reason or strength. Humanity has conquered the world. Can we defeat greed and fear? Steinbeck wasn't sure that our species could overcome our apparent self-hatred. Perhaps the fear of terrorism can unite the world. Meanwhile, people continue to fight. Maybe things will finally change and we can all gain the empathy and understanding that were Steinbeck's. Unfortunately, those qualities only seem to emerge through great struggle.