Responding to John Steinbeck's "The Great Mountains"

Responding to “The Great Mountains” by John Steinbeck

I.  An Important Note about California History in Steinbeck’s “The Great Mountains”

Steinbeck incorporates an often-forgotten part of California history in this story—namely, the fact that California used to be part of Mexico, and that the U.S.A. took control of California through a combination of warfare and immigration. First, when Jody looks across the Salinas Valley, he remembers being told that “battles had been fought against the Mexicans on the slopes” across from the Tiflin ranch (39). This line refers to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), in which the U.S.A. used military force to wrestle California away from Mexican control. However, for decades prior to this war, immigration was already a major social issue in California—in particular, due to the efforts of a wealthy rancher named John Marsh, who wanted California to belong to the U.S.A. and who conducted a letter-writing campaign designed to bring as many white setters into California as possible. Through the combination of (1) waves of white American immigrants who answered Marsh’s call and moved to California and (2) the bloody Mexican-American War, California passed into the hands of the U.S.A. As a result, many of the Californios (the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of Mexican California) lost their lands and their livelihoods. Gitano may be one of the last Californios still living when he shows up at the Tiflins’ ranch.

II.  Instructions

Please choose one of the topics below and discuss it in a fully-developed paragraph that begins with a clear claim or topic sentence. Then support your claim with clearly-explained reasoning and two significant quotations from the story.

1) Jody’s Connection with Gitano

Early in this story, we witness Jody Tiflin’s cruel actions directed at animals. Later in this story, we witness Carl Tiflin’s cruel words directed at Gitano. Neither Jody nor Carl, his father, seem like they feel much compassion for others. In fact, Jody is used to being hurt intentionally by his father: “Jody knew how his father was probing for a place to hurt Gitano. He had been probed often. His father knew every place in the boy where a word would fester” (46). However, Jody responds in an unexpected way to the old man Gitano. He may be a bored kid, but he is also curious and drawn toward mystery.

Why do you think Jody takes an interest in Gitano’s life, treats Gitano with kindness and compassion, and feels sorrowful when Gitano is gone? What might explain the loyalty and concern that Jody feels toward Gitano and the desire that Jody has to protect Gitano?

2) Moral Responsibility?

Carl Tiflin sees the situation with Gitano in a black-and-white way. However, Mrs.Tiflin, Jody’s mother, seems to feel differently than her husband, and even says, “It’s too bad he can’t stay” (48). Moreover, Billy Buck, the Tiflins’ ranch-hand, also seems troubled by the situation. How about you? Do you think the Tiflins have no moral responsibility to provide Gitano with a place to live out his remaining days, OR do you think it’s the right thing to do for the Tiflins to allow Gitano to stay at their ranch? Why? (Notice that I said moral responsibility, and not legal responsibility. Just because something is legal, that doesn’t mean it is always “justice.” For example, apartheid was once legal in South Africa, and slavery was once legal in the U.S.A.) Does knowing the history of California and the history of the ranch—including Gitano’s personal history there—make any difference?