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Influence Of Communication In Travels With Charley By John Steinbeck

1551 Words7 Pages

Today in modern America, especially with the rapid rise of social media, the explosion of new fads, online debates, and social norms are constantly evolving. Change is not a new phenomenon though, as John Steinbeck was able to capture the sole reason for this: communication, a universal and timeless tool used to craft the opinions of the people. In the 1950s, the American author set out on a journey to discover the American identity by traveling the country to talk with the diverse American people. The author’s experiences and today’s readers are separated by more than 65 years, yet all can make personal connections with the conclusions Steinbeck draws in his novel because some things never change. In Travels with Charley, Steinbeck conveys that Americans are heavily influenced by communication with each other. Set out on a journey to socialize with the American people, Steinbeck shows how people have the power to influence others, and for him, it is not always positive. One of Steinbeck’s first negative experiences is at a small restaurant in New England. After a distasteful attempt to converse with the lifeless waitress, Steinbeck makes a strong statement about all people. He says, “…one person can saturate a room with vitality, with excitement. Then there are others, and …show more content…

In his long journey across the nation, Steinbeck set out to find an unattainable truth: the American identity. He did not find it, but he discovered important facets of how Americans function that can be applied today. Though the channels of communication have drastically evolved since Steinbeck’s journey, everyone is still continuously being influenced by interaction with each other. Whether someone is face-to-face with a traveling stranger or face-to-phone with their friend oversees, no one can escape the internal impact that can only occur through influential communication with

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