Genre
American 20th century fiction
Setting and Context
New York
Narrator and Point of View
A third-person narrator.
Tone and Mood
The tone of the novel is at first cynical and later becomes remorseful.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Arguably, Ethan is both the protagonist and antagonist of the novel.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is between Ethan and his own greed/pride.
Climax
The climax of the novel is when Ethan prepares to kill himself but then finds that his razors have been replaced by an old family heirloom.
Foreshadowing
Ethan's plan to rob the bank is foreshadowed as the sun shines on the bank at the beginning of the novel.
Understatement
Both Ethan and his son understate their responsibility for their own immoral actions.
Allusions
Many allusions are made to Good Friday, a religious celebration.
Imagery
Steinbeck includes rich imagery of the weather, town, and characters.
Paradox
Despite the fact Ethan reports the grocery store owner to the authorities, leading to his deportation, Ethan still inherits the store.
Parallelism
Ethan's transgressions are paralleled with the fact his son plagiarized his essay for the competition.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The sparrows are personified as taking part in a "battle."
