Book Review: "The Winter of Our Discontent" by John Steinbeck

You know that time where I said I had pretty much read everything by John Steinbeck? Yeah, it doesn't look that way now does it? Honestly, I did know this one existed but so many people had tried to ruin it for me because they didn't like it that they told me it wasn't worth the trouble. But, to be honest there are just those times where you need some Steinbeck in your life. It was the same way I felt before reading Tortilla Flat some years' ago - I had heard from some that it wasn't worth the read but it was absolutely fantastic and so now, I don't believe what others say about Steinbeck novels, especially if they say they aren't worth it. The Winter of Our Discontent was awesome as well so there we go.

Ethan, once a member of the prestigious Hawley family, now works as a clerk in the grocery store that his family once owned. His ancestors were wealthy sea captains and merchants, but the family’s fortune dwindled due to mismanagement. Ethan is proud of his family’s legacy but resigned to his diminished status. He maintains a strict moral code and lives modestly, despite the town’s growing materialism. He wrestles with the contrast between his present situation and the lofty position his family once held. A typical Steinbeck protagonist that has a type of internal struggle in which they must become realistic with themselves about the world.

Ethan’s wife, Mary, while loving and supportive, frequently expresses disappointment with their financial situation, subtly nudging Ethan to aim higher. Their son, Allen, idolises wealth and success, often mentioning the riches of the town’s elite and criticising his father’s lack of ambition. Ellen, their daughter, is younger and more innocent, but even she is caught up in material desires. Ethan’s family is not openly ungrateful, but their aspirations for wealth begin to weigh heavily on him. Ethan is torn between maintaining his moral integrity and wanting to meet their expectations. Here we have some serious Loman tropes going on. I find that Ethan and Allen remind me of Willy and Biff because of the way they are so different, but underneath they are exactly the same.

Danny Taylor, a childhood friend of Ethan, represents the other side of their town’s declining aristocracy. Once wealthy, Danny is now a homeless alcoholic, drifting through life aimlessly. He owns a large plot of land, but his addiction has left him incapable of managing it. Danny offers to sell his family’s land to Ethan at a fraction of its value, trusting him as an old friend. Ethan feels a deep sense of responsibility to help Danny, but the temptation to exploit Danny’s vulnerability for personal gain also creeps into his mind. This character was possibly the most interesting because of his motivations. A lot of people wouldn't be sympathetic and I'm not either, but the want to maintain himself overrides his morality and this again, is one of those things that makes the classic antagonist of Steinbeck novels - one that is utterly understandable even though it's still not a good thing.

Ethan’s internal conflict intensifies as he faces increasing pressure from his family, friends, and society to succeed. He begins to question his once-steadfast morals. Ethan ponders whether he has been too naive in clinging to his honesty in a world where others thrive through deceit. This struggle is symbolised by his constant dialogue with himself and his private conversations with a bust of his ancestor, Captain Hawley, who embodies the values of the old family legacy. Ethan starts to see those around him—Baker, Danny, Marullo—as mere pawns in his battle to reclaim his family’s fortune. And so, what we have is another classic storyline that was also told by Kafka in his novel Amerika: people are not to be trusted because they are simply self-serving.

Some of the realisations that Ethan will make throughout the book will be shocking and one of the bigs ones includes his son, Allen - which again reminds me of Death of a Salesman in a way. I will say that this book is by far not Steinbeck's worst effort, I simply think it is one of those books by him that is like Of Mice and Men rather than Cannery Row - it's depressing and hyper-realistic. Sometimes things just fall apart.