1. Symbolism and Emotion: Hands can be expressive and symbolic. Steinbeck uses the actions of hands to portray emotions, intentions, and inner conflicts without explicitly stating them. For example, hands that are clenched tightly might indicate anger or anxiety, while gentle, caressing hands can suggest tenderness or compassion.
2. Characterization: Describing the actions of hands can reveal important traits about a character. Steinbeck uses this technique to define social identities, occupations, and skills. Characters working with their hands, such as farmers, mechanics, or craftsmen, often embody honest labor and connection to the earth.
3. Physical Expression: The actions of hands can be a form of physical expression and storytelling. They add a dynamic element to the narrative, as Steinbeck shows characters interacting with their environment and performing various tasks. This level of detail creates a more immersive and sensory experience for the reader.
4. Connection to Labor: Steinbeck frequently explored themes related to class, economy, and the significance of work. By highlighting the actions of hands engaged in labor, he sheds light on the value of honest toil, human craftsmanship, and the struggles of working-class individuals.
5. Contrasts and Comparisons: Describing the actions of hands allows Steinbeck to draw contrasts and parallels between characters. Contrasting the delicate hands of privileged individuals with the calloused hands of laborers, for instance, emphasizes class divisions and inequalities.
6. Empathy and Human Connection: Steinbeck uses detailed descriptions of hands to humanize his characters and foster empathy among readers. Through the actions of their hands, readers gain insight into characters' experiences, desires, and personal histories.
Examples of Steinbeck's descriptions of hands include:
- "Tom's hands, closed into fists with desperation, went slowly to the handles of the plow" (From "The Grapes of Wrath").
- "He took her hand between his big, shapeless paws and closed it about the lump of metal" (From "Of Mice and Men").
- "She bent forward until her hands touched the water, fingers spreading like the tips of willows" (From "Cannery Row").
By focusing on the actions of hands, Steinbeck not only adds depth to his characters but also weaves together themes of social realism, the dignity of labor, and the complexities of human existence.