6. Regardless of Charles's brutal beating of Adam and his infidelity with Adam's wife, does he love his brother? Why? Are the brothers close? Why might they be closer through letters? Why does Charles handwriting change in the strange letter he writes to Adam at the end of chapter 4? And why might Steinbeck say that this letter is key to the novel?
Yes, Charles loves his brother despite all the beatings and sleeping around with his wife. he loves his brother because Charles always felt the need to protect Adam and make sure he was always alright. in the text it says "Charles fought anybody who challenged or slurred Adam... he protected Adam from his fathers harshness with lies and even blame taking." this proves he loved and felt responsibility for his brother. Charles just caused him a lot of grief because he made alot of simple minded decisions. In the beginning the brothers weren't really that close but when Adam went to the army and was long away from home they grew closer from the bonds of letters.they are closer through letters because that was the way they truly expressed themselves where as in person not so much.Charles changed at the end of chapter four because he is starting to figure things out and doesn't really know or have straight answers for alot of things he's realizing. This might be key to the novel because this unlocked many important things the boys had yet to find out about their father.
7. Is Cathy Ames doomed by nature to be who she is or does she have a choice? Cathy is introduced as a monster in chapter 8; in chapter 12 she's described slightly differently. Steinbeck sees to be assessing her character as he writes the book. Why might Steinbeck be asking the reader to asses Cathy carefully.
Cathy Ames has a choice. she did all of these things to herself being the monster that she is. she would've truly did great things with Adam. their love could have help shape something beautiful but instead used her persuasion to turn around and sleep with his brother. On page 121 the text states "she had not only made up her mind to marry Adam but she had decided before he had asked her. She was afraid. She needed protection and money. Adam could give her both. And she could control him -she knew that." this proves that Cathy was nothing but a con artist waiting to strike her next victim. Steinbeck may be asking us to asses her carefully so we don't mistake her like the characters did. We tend to feel bad and show a lot of sympathy to her when instead we should be wanting Adam to listen to Charles and get rid of her. See we are blinded by her as well as the characters.
No comments:
Post a Comment