40 pages • 1 hour read
John SteinbeckA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
“When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward man, and the road away from Here seems broad and straight and sweet, the victim must first find in himself a good and sufficient reason for going.”
Steinbeck states that his reason for taking the trip is to learn about the country, and to avoid getting old. This passage suggests that he may have wanted to take the trip anyway and invented those reasons to justify the trip to himself, his friends, and his wife.
“He prefers negotiation to fighting, and properly so, since he is very bad at fighting.”
Steinbeck describes Charley in almost human terms throughout the book. This quote comes during his introduction, as Steinbeck discusses the foolishness of bringing Charley on the trip as a guard dog.
“Among nearly forty I didn’t see a single state that hadn’t a good word to say for itself.”
Even the lowliest of places Steinbeck visits have historical markers and signs celebrating major historical events. This amuses him, but he appreciates the pride locals take in their homelands.
By John Steinbeck
Action & Adventure
View Collection
Aging
View Collection
American Literature
View Collection
Animals in Literature
View Collection
Beauty
View Collection
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Civil Rights & Jim Crow
View Collection
Community
View Collection
Fear
View Collection
Inspiring Biographies
View Collection
Memoir
View Collection
Memory
View Collection
Nobel Laureates in Literature
View Collection
The Future
View Collection
The Past
View Collection