Many literary works deal with the positive and negative aspects of the American dream. One of these literary works which deals with the negative aspects of the American dream is "Tortilla Flat" by John Steinbeck. The book is about a group of societal marginal figures, which do not have any interest in becoming rich and famous and they take their life as it comes.
For them, friendship and freedom are more important than wealth and therefore they represent the counterpart of the American dream. But there are also characters in the book, which believe in the American dream and who strive for wealth and reputation. That is why "Tortilla Flat" provides a good contrast of the proponents and opponents of the American dream.
In this research paper I will analyse the main characters of “Tortilla Flat” and compare them to the American dream. First of all I will explain what the American dream really is. Afterwards I will give a short summary of the plot of the book and an overview of the historical background. Then I will show the western frontier in the book, which is also part of the American dream. After that I will analyse the main characters of "Tortilla Flat": Women, Torelli and the paisanos. Finally I will give a short conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. What is the American Dream?
4. The Western Frontier in Tortilla Flat
5. Characters
5.1 Women
5.2 Torelli
5.3 Danny and his friends
6. Conclusion
Objectives & Themes
This paper aims to analyze the main characters of John Steinbeck's novel "Tortilla Flat" and evaluate them in the context of the American Dream. By contrasting the societal marginal figures (paisanos) with the proponents of material wealth, the work explores how the novel serves as a critique of materialistic values and social conventions.
- The historical and theoretical background of the American Dream
- The concept of the "Western Frontier" within the narrative of the novel
- A comparative analysis of characters representing the American Dream versus those rejecting it
- The symbolic role of friendship and freedom as alternatives to material success
- The influence of societal status and economic hierarchy on the characters
Excerpt from the Book
5.2 Torelli
Torelli is the counterpart of the paisanos and the most important representative of the ideals of the American dream. He is the typical selfish businessman and stands for the upper class of the civilized society. Torelli is the owner of an illegal wine brewery and can therefore be easily connected to the people who became rich through illegal business, especially through illegal sale of alcohol during the early twenties. He is close fisted and he always tries to exploit his customers (Steinbeck 1996: 208). Torelli has the “exaggerated and wholly quixotic ideal of marital relations” (Steinbeck 1996: 56), which means that societal estimation is his purpose in life and again connected with material wealth. Torelli never visits anyone, he lets people come to him (Steinbeck 1996: 210) and therefore I suggest that he does not have any friends. His face seldom shows other emotions than suspicion and anger. The only thing that makes him happy is wealth. This suggestion can be proven by the fact that Torelli smiles when he is on his way to Danny's house to show Danny's friends the bill of sale (Steinbeck 1996: 211). People on his way step dismissively out of his way and “clench their fists to repel a madman” (Steinbeck 1996: 211), which proves that he is an unpopular, mean person without friends.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the research topic, focusing on the contrast between proponents and opponents of the American Dream within John Steinbeck's "Tortilla Flat".
2. What is the American Dream?: This chapter defines the American Dream through its historical roots, its connection to materialism and democracy, and its role as a guiding myth in American society.
4. The Western Frontier in Tortilla Flat: This section examines the representation of the western frontier as a border between civilization and nature, positioning the paisanos as figures who exist outside traditional societal success.
5. Characters: This core chapter categorizes and analyzes the protagonists and antagonists, specifically looking at women, Torelli, and the group of friends.
5.1 Women: This chapter analyzes how female characters represent the materialistic ideals of the American Dream and seek social climbing through property and marriage.
5.2 Torelli: This section explores how Torelli embodies the selfish, competitive businessman who represents the negative, materialist side of the American Dream.
5.3 Danny and his friends: This chapter discusses how the paisanos reject material wealth in favor of friendship, freedom, and a life free from societal obligations.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes how "Tortilla Flat" satirizes the glorification of the American Dream by showing that happiness is found in human connection rather than material gain.
Keywords
John Steinbeck, Tortilla Flat, American Dream, Materialism, Paisanos, Friendship, Capitalism, Frontier, Social Hierarchy, Individualism, Freedom, Critical Realism, Satire, Monterey, Ownership
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper examines the main characters of John Steinbeck's novel "Tortilla Flat" and compares their lives and values with the ideals of the American Dream.
Which central themes are explored in this work?
The primary themes include the conflict between materialism and human connection, the role of social class, the influence of the Western Frontier, and the pursuit of freedom versus societal obligation.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The author intends to demonstrate how Steinbeck uses the contrast between the paisanos and materialistic characters to satirize and criticize the societal obsession with wealth and reputation.
What methodology is applied in the paper?
The paper employs a literary analysis approach, contextualizing the text within the critical realism of the 1930s and using historical background to interpret character motivations.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body defines the American Dream, analyzes the setting of the Western Frontier in Monterey, and provides a detailed character study of women, Torelli, and Danny's group of friends.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include American Dream, Steinbeck, Tortilla Flat, Materialism, Friendship, Paisanos, and Social Criticism.
How does Torelli function as a character in the narrative?
Torelli is depicted as the antithesis of the paisanos; he represents the selfishness, greed, and cold materialism of the capitalist upper class.
Why are the paisanos considered "opponents" of the American Dream?
They are considered opponents because they prioritize friendship, freedom, and living in the present over wealth accumulation, status, and the pressure to succeed in a capitalist system.
What role does the "Western Frontier" play in the novel?
The frontier serves as a symbolic space representing the border between nature and modern civilization, where the paisanos attempt to live outside the established societal hierarchy.
- Quote paper
- Anne-Karen Fischer (Author), 2008, John Steinbeck's "Tortilla Flat". The main characters and their relation with the American Dream, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/424089
