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Summary Of Olive Hamilton Chapter 14

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What was the purpose of Chapter 14 and it’s apparent out of place and random inclusion of Olive Hamilton? In Chapter 14, Steinbeck dedicates an entire chapter to describe his mother, Olive Hamilton. Steinbeck describes how Olive Hamilton sold the most Liberty Bonds and was rewarded in return with a ride in an airplane. She prepares for the ride as if she is going to die by setting up everything for her family in case she does not make it. She makes it back alive with her family waiting and cheering for her as she lands. However, this chapter seems a bit out of place, as it interrupts Adam and Cathy’s move and integration to California. I believe that Steinbeck not only included this chapter for his mother, but also to show a juxtaposition between …show more content…

From the very beginning, Charles Trask is is suspicious of Cathy when she shows up to the Trask’s farm. Charles even states, “You know what I think? I don’t think I’m half as mean as you are under that nice skin. I think you’re a devil” (116). Also, on the way home, Samuel Hamilton remembers the eyes of a criminal who was being executed. He realizes that Cathy’s eyes were similar to the criminals and that she also had evil traits. Lee recognizes Cathy’s evil when working for her as a servant. However, Adam is not able to recognize this because he only sees Cathy as what he wants her to be and not for what she actually is. For example, when Adam and Cathy move to the Salinas Valley, Adam thinks that Cathy wants to go and is a good wife, but Cathy does not actually want to go. Also, Cathy tries to kill her baby because she doesn’t want children, but Adam is happy and overjoyed when he finds out that Cathy is pregnant. In addition, the only people who Cathy fears are the people who are able to see her true self, like Samuel Hamilton, Charles Trask, and Lee, but takes advantage of people who are unable to see this quality of her, like Adam Trask and Mr.

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