About being a writer, the American author John Steinbeck says: “In total solitude, a writer tries to explain the inexplicable . » As a writer, Steinbeck effectively focuses on society, its vices and its virtues, as in his novels The Pearl and Of Mice and Men. In both stories, Steinbeck portrays verismo through the events of the 1920s to the 1940s and the knowledge gained through tragedy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Steinbeck focuses on the stickiness of issues like poverty and the Great Depression. In Of Mice and Men, main characters Lennie and George face poverty and find themselves traveling across California to find work wherever they can. Steinbeck effectively describes how George felt when he said, “Guys like us, who work on ranches, are the loneliest guys in the world. They have no family. They have no place anywhere” (13). In the 1920s and 1940s, homelessness and poverty took a heavy toll on Americans' lives due to the Great Depression. The novel Of Mice and Men accurately depicts the struggle against poverty in America 90 years ago, due to the fact that Steinbeck lived where the story took place. Another example of poverty in Steinbeck's novels is found in the short story The Pearl. Kino, a poor pearl fisherman in Mexico, finds himself and his family struggling to survive with the few resources they have. This short story advocates socialism by describing the problems of poverty and famine. To describe the conditions in which the family lives, Steinbeck writes: "clefts in the brush...corn for morning cakes" (2-3). These visual descriptions emphasize that the living conditions of Kino and his family are rather poor. Steinbeck depicts the problems of underdevelopment of common people using verismo through this story. Relatively, Steinbeck focuses on tragic events in his writings and the knowledge to be gained through adaptation. In Of Mice and Men, George ends up killing his lifelong friend, Lennie. However, as George always did, he did what was best for Lennie. This emotional moment in the novel captured the reader's feelings when Steinbeck writes: "George shuddered and looked at the gun, then he threw it away from him, onto the bank, near the pile of old ashes" (106). Steinbeck writes that George never wanted to kill Lennie and did it out of love. This excerpt from Of Mice and Men helps bring the knowledge gained through adaptation to life. George gained knowledge because he knew it was best for everyone. Another case where Steinbeck illustrates the same goal is in The Pearl with Kino and Coyotito. Thanks to Kino's ignorance, he becomes the cause of the death of his son, Coyotito. Steinbeck accurately describes how Kino and his wife, Juana, feel after Coyotito is shot in the head. This is how Steinbeck captivates audiences and clarifies how knowledge is acquired through tragic experiences. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Using these techniques, Steinbeck became a world-renowned author. . Steinbeck effectively characterizes verismo throughout the 1920s and 1940s, while developing strong stories to describe the tragedy and the way it is handled. In..