On The Art Of Tragedy In John Steinbeck's Novels

John Steinbeck (1902-1968) is one of the most important writers in twentieth century American literature awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature under the far-reaching influence of The Grapes of Wrath which depicts the migrant workers from Oklahoma in the American Great Depression. However, his success is also closely related with the serious thinking in the creation of other long and medium-length novels. John Steinbeck has always been an outstanding novelist be his love for land and the sympathy and love for working class in the migrant trilogy or the vivid description in his novels of war theme or the destruction on the human self from the struggle between good and evil.Steinbeck criticism is a very complex area for study. Some researchers note the realism in his novels and aim to unfold how his novels present the voices the time. Some researchers'studies show his novels'naturalistic meanings. There are also studies on the relationship between his novels and the Bible from viewpoints of symbolism. Feministic criticism also appears in the later years of last century.This thesis, consisting of three parts, intends to dive deep into Steinbeck's novels of tragic consciousness to unfold the art of tragedy. Chapter one briefly deals with the novelist and his work, a general view of John Steinbeck criticism and the research objective and structure of the thesis. Chapter two discusses the theoretical and relevant backgrounds, including the novelist's philosophical thinking, the influence that benefits him and himself as literary experimentalist. It also connects John Steinbeck and tragedy and focuses on the representation of the tragedy in his novels. Chapter three studies the thematically unfolded tragic consciousness from three different tragic themes, namely the breakdown of the American Dream, journey in pain and the twisting human nature in the good-evil conflict. Chapter four touches upon the artistic techniques in his novels of tragic consciousness. John Steinbeck blends different kinds of writing techniques. The major ones are the use of symbolism, the application of allegory, practice of play-novelette and film-novelette, realism and naturalism. Through the discussion and analysis above, the thesis comes to the conclusion which summaries the thesis and highlights the major points.John Steinbeck is a novelist of talent. His tragic consciousness, like his realistic style, is a key factor which contributes to his success. Whether it is thematic concern or writing technique, his tragic consciousness has the ineradicable importance. Though Steinbeck criticism never reaches consensus and many critics show doubt on his literary creation, John Steinbeck's thinking and artistic endeavor secure him a steady important position in the history of American literature.