Comparative Study of Characterization and Theme in Missing Slouch and The Grapes of Wrath
Subject Areas : Persian Language and Literature
1 - Faculty member at Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch
Keywords:
Abstract :
Economical predicaments have always been a suitable basis for social changes and transformations. Literary authors who have not recognized themselves apart from people and society‟s progress for change have tried to record the social events and serve their duty as a social writer. The important point in studying the relationship between literature and society is similarities in which different authors from different cultures have responded the same reaction to the similar social upheavals. White Revolution in Iran, for example, and its unsuccessful results has been depicted by Mahmud Dollatabadi, famous Iranian novelist. He shows a realistic literary account of this social-economical change to reflect its unsuccessful consequences in his novel Missing Slouch. On the other hand, John Steinbeck, well-known American novelist and literature noble prize winner, has written a novel in a very critical period of American history called The Great Depression. His novel is one the best literary record of this social-economical process. Social, economical and political similarities of these two events, White Revolution and The Great Depression, prove the similar way of thinking and approaching among writers to mirror the hidden realities of their society. Also, it proves the collective unconscious of human beings in dealing with ups and downs. This paper aims at, first, studying the common social and political origins of above mentioned events. Second, the common themes and characterization in Missing Slouch and The Grapes of Wrath are studied from Marxist point of view to prove the similarities found in two novels resulted from the common viewpoint and collective unconscious of the writers. The paper focuses on appreciating common themes, similarities in creating and developing the characters, changes in traditional structure of social unions to show the role of literature in recording and illustrating social processes.
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