Discussion starters:
- How does the theme of "westering" influence the meaning of the story?
- What does Jody's request for lemonade at the end represent in his development?
- Do find evidence for Astro's claim that "Steinbeck views the modern spirit as soft-willed in comparison with the heroic exploits of those men" (108) who preceded him?
Critical Sources
:
Astro, Richard. "Something That Happened: A Non-Teleological Approach to 'The Leader of the People.'" Hayashi 105-11.
Hart, Richard E. "Steinbeck on Man and Nature: A Philosophical Reflection." Steinbeck and the Environment. Ed. Susan F. Beegel, Susan Shillingshaw and Wesley N. Tiffney, Jr. Tuscaloosa: U of Alabama P, 1997. 43-52.
Hayashi, Tetsumaro, ed. A Study Guide to Steinbeck's The Long Valley. Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian, 1976.
Hughes, R. S. Beyond the Red Pony: A Reader’s Companion to Steinbeck’s Complete Short Stories. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow, 1987.
Timmerman, John H. The Dramatic Landscape of Steinbeck’s Short Stories. Norman, OK: U of Oklahoma P, 1990.