Summary
John Steinbeck's final novel, The Winter of Our Discontent, published in 1961, is a powerful exploration of moral decay in mid-20th century America. Set in Long Island, New York, it marks Steinbeck's only work to take place entirely on the East Coast. The novel's protagonist, Ethan Allen Hawley, grapples with societal pressures and personal integrity in a corrupt world. The book's title, drawn from Shakespeare's Richard III, alludes to the spiritual crisis at the heart of the narrative. Steinbeck's masterful prose and keen insights into the American condition earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962, with the committee specifically praising this work as a return to his earlier, socially conscious themes.
Plot
Set at the dawn of the 1960s in an old whaling town on New York’s Long Island, The Winter of Our Discontent follows Ethan Allen Hawley, a former member of the local aristocracy now resigned to working as a clerk in the grocery store his family onced owned. Ethan’s family resents their reduced social and economic status, pressuring him to reclaim their former wealth and standing. Influenced by his wife's dissatisfaction, his children's materialistic desires, and the corrupt attitudes of those around him, Ethan begins to question his long-held principles of honesty and integrity.
Faced with mounting pressure, Ethan decides to abandon his moral standards. He anonymously reports the grocery store owner, an Italian immigrant named Alfio Marullo, to immigration authorities, suspecting he may be in the country illegally. When Marullo is taken into custody, he transfers ownership of the store to Ethan, believing him to be honest and deserving. Ethan also manipulates his alcoholic friend Danny Taylor into drinking himself to death, ensuring Danny leaves him a valuable piece of land in his will.
As Ethan becomes increasingly entangled in the town's corrupt dealings, he grapples with his conscience. He plans and mentally rehearses a bank robbery but fails to follow through. Meanwhile, Ethan learns that his son has won an essay contest by plagiarizing classic American authors. When confronted, his son shows no remorse, arguing that everyone cheats and lies to get ahead.
Overwhelmed by guilt and disillusionment, Ethan contemplates suicide. As he prepares to end his life, he discovers a family talisman his daughter had slipped into his pocket. This unexpected reminder of his family's love and trust causes Ethan to reconsider his actions. As the tide rises around him, he struggles to escape and return the talisman to his daughter, leaving the novel's conclusion open to interpretation.
