The Danger in Self-Sacrifice

The Danger in Self-Sacrifice In his second novel, To a God Unknown, John Steinbeck explores his protagonist's relationship with and worship of the land. While the use of the land as a character in itself is nothing unusual in Steinbeck's work, this novel is somewhat different in that it explores a more mythological perspective on man's relationship to his land. Joseph Wayne's hunger for the land was a common sentiment among those who settled the …

…achieve an end to the drought, without thought to the after. What good is rain without a ranch to grow on, a family to feed, a life to live? This is Steinbeck cautioning us against thinking our little lives can have an impact, reminding us of the dangers implicit in teleological thinking. Were it a fable, the moral might read; be careful what you wish for, for the end does not always justify the means.