The American Dream in the Works of John Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompso

devil writers who come quickly to my mind whenever I hear or translate images of American patriotism are John Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompson. As diverse as these two men are, their writing is similar in that the American Dream constantly fails their characters. Both let onk to define America and the American Dream, however, it remains seemingly elusive, and both writers fail to find it. I bring Steinbeck and Thompson because, to me, their writing styles are the same. They have the same lust for language and in good order writing. Their subjects are contemporary they are not necessarily moral or upright, alone are average stack. Both view the world in the same sad way, that the great unwashed are as easily guide to beauty as deceit, joy to sorrow and life to death. There are certain truths in their writing that is not expressed elsewhere consequences that we susceptibility not always like to believe exist. I also call for Steinbeck and Thompson in that they are represe ntative of the twentieth century. Steinbeck neatly covers the first half(prenominal)(prenominal) more or less, and Thompson from the sixties to present. Both authors have also experienced a number of failures. Steinbeck has been cal direct sentimental, overdrawn, boring and grossly contrived. While this may be true, for example, the killing of Candys dog as a metaphor for the killing of Lenny in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck received attention after Tortilla Flats was published. Since then, he has become one of the nigh popular authors of the twentieth century and won a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. Thompson, who has been called names less polite, continues to be a high-octane force in modern American writing, because he broke formulaic rules of writing and journalism. Thompson, who flunked out of Columbia, also worked hard before gaining fame for Hells Angels. His popularity continues today with his madness following of fans. Rather interesting is that both men are alcoholi cs. star of Steinbecks last books is Travels With Charley in which the old man and his poodle take a road trip in a custom built transport named Rosinante. This book is my least favorite here, sentimental, overdrawn, boring and grossly contrived engage greatly. Steinbeck records faithfully how he procured his truck, meets with his sons one last time before aspect off, then hurtles across the country, interviewing cowboys and common people. He makes brief comments on catamenia events suc... ...Fear, the characters are even accused of being un-American. Once in California, the Joads and their booster unit Casey (the preacher) hear strange chew out of "reds". The reds, are of course, communists, and those who are not communists only when want to offer people a better standard of living. It is chat of unionizing that ultimately leads to the death of Casey and why young Tom Joad must collapse his family. He swears to live out Caseys dream. Thompson, while sitting in a bar in Aspen, finds a former astronaut (whose name was deleted at the insistence of publishers lawyers), hassling a band that plays songs with some un-American sentiments. Thompson, as Raoul Duke, admonishes the bullish spaceman - "Hey, Im an American and I agree with every word he says, When the astronaut is asked by a young boy for an autograph, the spaceman is appalled when the boy rips the slip of paper up, proving just how worthless the spacemans "heroism" is. So where do we go from here? Is the American Dream all nonmeaningful imagery and puffery symbolism? Or is it something attainable, like money and power? Does it very exist? If so, why does it elude so many writers and everyday people? The American Dream in the Works of John Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompsodeuce writers who come quickly to my mind whenever I hear or see images of American patriotism are John Steinbeck and Hunter S. Thompson. As antithetical as these two men are, their writing is similar in that the American Dream constantly fails their characters. Both seek to define America and the American Dream, however, it remains seemingly elusive, and both writers fail to find it. I select Steinbeck and Thompson because, to me, their writing styles are the same. They have the same lust for language and tendinous writing. Their subjects are contemporary they are not necessarily moral or upright, but are average people. Both view the world in the same sad way, that people are as easily led to beauty as deceit, joy to sorrow and life to death. There are certain truths in their writing that is not expressed elsewhere consequences that we mightiness not always like to believe exist. I also choose Steinbeck and Thompson in that they are representative of the twentieth century. Steinbeck neatly covers the first half more or less, and Thompson from the sixties to present. Both authors have also experienced a number of failures. Steinbeck has been called sentimental, ov erdrawn, boring and grossly contrived. While this may be true, for example, the killing of Candys dog as a metaphor for the killing of Lenny in Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck received attention after Tortilla Flats was published. Since then, he has become one of the more or less popular authors of the twentieth century and won a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962. Thompson, who has been called names less polite, continues to be a high-octane force in modern American writing, because he broke customary rules of writing and journalism. Thompson, who flunked out of Columbia, also worked hard before gaining fame for Hells Angels. His popularity continues today with his hysteria following of fans. Rather interesting is that both men are alcoholics. matchless of Steinbecks last books is Travels With Charley in which the old man and his poodle take a road trip in a custom built truck named Rosinante. This book is my least favorite here, sentimental, overdrawn, boring and grossly contrived put one across greatly. Steinbeck records faithfully how he procured his truck, meets with his sons one last time before displace off, then hurtles across the country, interviewing cowboys and common people. He makes brief comments on sure events suc... ...Fear, the characters are even accused of being un-American. Once in California, the Joads and their athletic supporter Casey (the preacher) hear strange talk of "reds". The reds, are of course, communists, and those who are not communists but want to offer people a better standard of living. It is talk of unionizing that ultimately leads to the death of Casey and why young Tom Joad must perish his family. He swears to live out Caseys dream. Thompson, while sitting in a bar in Aspen, finds a former astronaut (whose name was deleted at the insistence of publishers lawyers), hassling a band that plays songs with some un-American sentiments. Thompson, as Raoul Duke, admonishes the bullish spaceman - "Hey, Im an Ameri can and I agree with every word he says, When the astronaut is asked by a young boy for an autograph, the spaceman is aghast(predicate) when the boy rips the slip of paper up, proving just how worthless the spacemans "heroism" is. So where do we go from here? Is the American Dream all hollow imagery and puffery symbolism? Or is it something attainable, like money and power? Does it real exist? If so, why does it elude so many writers and everyday people?