Hi, Class!
After hearing in class that Steinbeck didn't actually go on a grand tour across America with his dog Charley I didn't want to believe it. I thought that it just couldn't be true that he would write a nonfiction book about a journey that never actually happened. I think it was wrong to do this. I feel like Steinbeck deceived and lied to me. I realize that writers need to take a few creative liberties when they write nonfiction and that some facts and dates may not be completely correct due to human error, but Steinbeck flat out lied. I think the reason he felt out of touch with America is because he was out of touch, but he didn't make a legitimate effort to get back in touch with America and its people: he just wanted to write another best seller before he died. Consequently, I think Steinbeck's motivations to write Travels With Charley were pathetic and low, for he wanted to give America another reason to remember his name and to listen to his grumpy old man opinions, but he didn't really learn anything new about America. Does anyone else feel this way?
This issue with _Travels With Charley_ reminds me of a play called _Bee-Luther-Hatchee_ that I read when I was an undergraduate. Here is some information about it if you're interested:
http://www.english.upenn.edu/~cmazer/bee.html
I think you're right, he was out of touch with modern America, but I don't think we know the reasons why he wrote the book. Urrea came up with several good reasons and it could be a combination of them all. Anyway, it's sad for him to end his life on a disillusioned, irritable note. We can learn from that, at least.
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