Nature vs. Nurture

An important point that Steinbeck tries to deliver is the significance of memory. “The bitterness we sold to the junk man—he got it all right, but we have it still.” Despite having rid themselves of the physical presence of reminders of past woes, the mental image and pain still remain. Just because there isn’t anything around to provide evidence of something happening doesn’t mean that it will go away. “You and me—why, we’re all that’s been,” he wrote—people are defined by their experiences as memories, not by what is around them. One’s character is shaped from within...