Discussion starters:
- What does the narrator imply when he says of Jelka, "She learned her husband as she learned passages of Scripture" (122-23)?
- Does Steinbeck intend for us to conclude that Mr. Sepic was right in his advice on how to treat Jelka, and that if Jim had beat her more regularly, she would have been faithful?
- What do the animal images contribute to our understanding of the Moores?
- How does the setting impact the theme of the story?
- In what ways do you find the cattle rustling diversion symbolic?
Critical Sources
:
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.
Morsberger, Katherine M. and Robert E. "'The Murder' -- Realism or Ritual?" Hayashi 65-71.
Timmerman, John H. The Dramatic Landscape of Steinbeck’s Short Stories. Norman, OK: U of Oklahoma P, 1990.
