Discussion Questions
1. How does Steinbeck represent Depression-era manhood? How does he represent Depression-era womanhood? How do representations of manhood and womanhood in the novel compare with gender representations in other media, such as art and music?
2. During the Great Depression, Americans were eager to define what it meant to be an American. How is that desire reflected in the literature, art, and music that we are considering this week?
3. The 1930s were hard times for many Americans, especially the very poor. How do your readings and the folk music you have experienced enrich your understanding of Depression hardship?