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The Vigilante
'Everything was dead, everything unreal; the dark mob was made up of stiff lay-figures'
One of America's greatest writers explores mob violence, voyeurism and betrayal in these unforgettable tales of Californian life.
Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.
One of America's greatest writers explores mob violence, voyeurism and betrayal in these unforgettable tales of Californian life.
Penguin Modern: fifty new books celebrating the pioneering spirit of the iconic Penguin Modern Classics series, with each one offering a concentrated hit of its contemporary, international flavour. Here are authors ranging from Kathy Acker to James Baldwin, Truman Capote to Stanislaw Lem and George Orwell to Shirley Jackson; essays radical and inspiring; poems moving and disturbing; stories surreal and fabulous; taking us from the deep South to modern Japan, New York's underground scene to the farthest reaches of outer space.
55 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
35 people are currently reading
2266 people want to read
About the author
John Steinbeck
1,041 books26.5k followersJohn Ernst Steinbeck was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception". He has been called "a giant of American letters."
During his writing career, he authored 33 books, with one book coauthored alongside Edward F. Ricketts, including 16 novels, six non-fiction books, and two collections of short stories. He is widely known for the comic novels Tortilla Flat (1935) and Cannery Row (1945), the multi-generation epic East of Eden (1952), and the novellas The Red Pony (1933) and Of Mice and Men (1937). The Pulitzer Prize–winning The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is considered Steinbeck's masterpiece and part of the American literary canon. By the 75th anniversary of its publishing date, it had sold 14 million copies.
Most of Steinbeck's work is set in central California, particularly in the Salinas Valley and the California Coast Ranges region. His works frequently explored the themes of fate and injustice, especially as applied to downtrodden or everyman protagonists.
During his writing career, he authored 33 books, with one book coauthored alongside Edward F. Ricketts, including 16 novels, six non-fiction books, and two collections of short stories. He is widely known for the comic novels Tortilla Flat (1935) and Cannery Row (1945), the multi-generation epic East of Eden (1952), and the novellas The Red Pony (1933) and Of Mice and Men (1937). The Pulitzer Prize–winning The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is considered Steinbeck's masterpiece and part of the American literary canon. By the 75th anniversary of its publishing date, it had sold 14 million copies.
Most of Steinbeck's work is set in central California, particularly in the Salinas Valley and the California Coast Ranges region. His works frequently explored the themes of fate and injustice, especially as applied to downtrodden or everyman protagonists.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 270 reviews
September 19, 2022
steinbeck at his best.
not sure at all why the average rating is so low - these are tiny and elegant, wonderful depictions of human nature in extremely spare forms.
each one usurped the last!
bottom line: tiny review of a tiny book.
4.5
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tbr review
can't get enough of these tiny pretty books
not sure at all why the average rating is so low - these are tiny and elegant, wonderful depictions of human nature in extremely spare forms.
each one usurped the last!
bottom line: tiny review of a tiny book.
4.5
----------------
tbr review
can't get enough of these tiny pretty books
May 3, 2022
[3.5] The three very short stories in this collection are all written in Steinbeck's clear, straightforward style. The most powerful was The Vigilante, a chilling account of a lynching through the eyes of a racist mob member. Although all three stories could be more fully developed, they are a reminder of how much I like Steinbeck's writing.
Penguin Modern Classics
#1 - Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
#2 - Television Was a Baby Crawling Toward That Deathchamber by Allen Ginsberg
#3 - The Breakthrough by Daphne Du Maurier
#4 - The Custard Heart by Dorothy Parker
#5 - Three Japanese Short Stories (3 authors)
#6 - The Veiled Woman by Anais Nin
#7 - Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell
#8 - Food by Gertrude Stein
#9 - The Three Electroknights by Stanislaw Lem
#10 - The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh
#11 - The Legend of the Sleepers by Danilo Kis
#12 - The Black Ball by Ralph Ellison
#13 - Till September Petronella by Jean Rhys
#14 - Investigations of a Dog by Franz Kafka
#15 - Daydream and Drunkenness of a Young Lady by Clarice Lispector
#16 - An Advertisement for Toothpaste by Ryszard Kapuscinski
#17 - Create Dangerously by Albert Camus
#18 - The Vigilante by John Steinbeck
Penguin Modern Classics
#1 - Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr.
#2 - Television Was a Baby Crawling Toward That Deathchamber by Allen Ginsberg
#3 - The Breakthrough by Daphne Du Maurier
#4 - The Custard Heart by Dorothy Parker
#5 - Three Japanese Short Stories (3 authors)
#6 - The Veiled Woman by Anais Nin
#7 - Notes on Nationalism by George Orwell
#8 - Food by Gertrude Stein
#9 - The Three Electroknights by Stanislaw Lem
#10 - The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh
#11 - The Legend of the Sleepers by Danilo Kis
#12 - The Black Ball by Ralph Ellison
#13 - Till September Petronella by Jean Rhys
#14 - Investigations of a Dog by Franz Kafka
#15 - Daydream and Drunkenness of a Young Lady by Clarice Lispector
#16 - An Advertisement for Toothpaste by Ryszard Kapuscinski
#17 - Create Dangerously by Albert Camus
#18 - The Vigilante by John Steinbeck
May 15, 2018
The three stories in this little collection explore the themes of violence, racism and female suppression. All are very readable and subtly handled, and though I thoroughly enjoyed the unsettling atmosphere that Steinbeck created, I felt they all fizzled out somewhat, and would have preferred a punchier ending that hit home his point with greater power and emotion.
March 21, 2018
3.5/5
January 7, 2025
دی ۱۴۰۳
July 16, 2018
I adore John Steinbeck; in everything which I have read of his, I have been struck by the clarity of his writing, and the depth of emotion which he demonstrates. I was thus very excited to read this selection of his short stories, presented as the eighteenth Penguin Modern book. Collected here are three stories - 'The Vigilante', 'The Snake', and 'The Chrysanthemums' - set in the Salinas Valley in California, in which Steinbeck 'explores mob violence, a disturbing encounter and a bitter betrayal'. All have been taken from Steinbeck's short story collection, The Long Valley, which was first published in 1938.
The content here is varied. 'The Vigilante' focuses upon a man who first storms a jail along with others, and then watches the lynching of a black prisoner, recounting his experience to a bartender whom he meets later the same evening. The protagonist of 'The Snake' is about a scientist who 'could kill a thousand animals for knowledge, but not an insect for pleasure'; a woman comes into his seaside laboratory, and requests some rather unusual things of him. 'The Chrysanthemums' tells the story of a farmer's wife in a rural part of California, who meets a new acquaintance, and learns quite as much from him as she teaches him.
Throughout these stories, Steinbeck's prose has a pitch and tone which is customary with, and unique to, his work. He manages to fit so much into a deceptively simple sentence; for instance, in 'The Vigilante', he writes: 'The park lawn was cut to pieces by the feet of the crowd', conjuring up myriad questions in the reader's mind. Steinbeck's long fiction really packs a punch, and these stories are no different; indeed, I found them quite difficult to read in places. Their scenes are haunting and memorable. The stories collected in The Vigilante are fantastic in their breadth, and in the brutality and beauty which sears from the pages.
The content here is varied. 'The Vigilante' focuses upon a man who first storms a jail along with others, and then watches the lynching of a black prisoner, recounting his experience to a bartender whom he meets later the same evening. The protagonist of 'The Snake' is about a scientist who 'could kill a thousand animals for knowledge, but not an insect for pleasure'; a woman comes into his seaside laboratory, and requests some rather unusual things of him. 'The Chrysanthemums' tells the story of a farmer's wife in a rural part of California, who meets a new acquaintance, and learns quite as much from him as she teaches him.
Throughout these stories, Steinbeck's prose has a pitch and tone which is customary with, and unique to, his work. He manages to fit so much into a deceptively simple sentence; for instance, in 'The Vigilante', he writes: 'The park lawn was cut to pieces by the feet of the crowd', conjuring up myriad questions in the reader's mind. Steinbeck's long fiction really packs a punch, and these stories are no different; indeed, I found them quite difficult to read in places. Their scenes are haunting and memorable. The stories collected in The Vigilante are fantastic in their breadth, and in the brutality and beauty which sears from the pages.
August 31, 2025
This a small collection of 3 short stories with Vigilante being the star. As we live in times where everything is seen in black and white and quick answers to problems are offered and grasped at, it makes Vigilante so valuable a read.
April 6, 2018
Originally posted on A Frolic Through Fiction
This one covers three short stories, the first of which following the events shortly after a public lynching. Being so short, I can’t say I left this one having much to say about it, though I could tell it’s definitely the sort of story I’d prefer as a longer book. There were so many things that could have been explored, but were missed out because of the page count. The second story – The Snake – was much more up my street, showing the scene of a man who keeps animals for experiments becoming dually unnerved when a random woman waltzes in demanding to buy one of the snakes. It proved to be an uncomfortable read for all the right reasons, and I couldn’t help but wonder how Steinbeck managed to create such a creepy atmosphere in so little words. Though the “point” of the story was someone lost on me, it only added to the unnerving scenario, and I can imagine this being the sort of story literary analysts love tearing into. As for the final story, The Chrysanthemums, I did find it somewhat boring in comparison to the previous one, though I could sense an underlying tension that stoked my interest throughout. From the book collectively, I found Steinbeck’s writing to be intriguing in an understated sort of way – not particularly descriptive or lyrical, but providing a general sense of uneasiness no matter the situation.
September 12, 2022
Shows the spectrum of Steinbeck but each story is too short to be memorable.
Three stories. one on a lynching, one on the biology of life and death, and one on unrequited love. Pretty much Steinbeck's main themes, but stories too short to show the character development he is known for.
Three stories. one on a lynching, one on the biology of life and death, and one on unrequited love. Pretty much Steinbeck's main themes, but stories too short to show the character development he is known for.
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March 12, 2019همیشه اون چیزی که غالب آدمهای اجتماع انجام میدن درست نیست! نمیشه فقط با این منطق که همه دارن کاری رو انجام میدن ما هم انجام بدیم.
March 12, 2019
Incredible find. Three very short stories masterfully crafted, detailing human passions as they rule their vessel. Tender to the point of soreness. My love for Steinbeck deepens with every book.
January 13, 2024
Title story only : man takes part in a lynching. Devastating.
January 31, 2019
Մեկ-մեկ պետք է սովետական թարգմանությունները վերանայել, երբ նորից ինչ-որ կերպ հրապարակվում է։ Ճիշտ է գիրքը ռասիզմի մասին էր, բայց թարգմանությունն էլ էր ռասիստական։
March 23, 2018
The Vigilante 4/5
I expected this to be more about mob mentality and less about the aftermath of a mob attack. I kept waiting for a twist at the end that didn't really happen. Instead it's a very subtle depiction of what it feels like to have been part an active part of mob violence.
The Snake 4/5
This one was my favorite because it's thoroughly unsettling in its minute description of animals and the appearance of a lady with an uncomfortable fascination for snakes.
The Chrysanthemums 2/5
It wasn't bad but I didn't really care for this woman who seemed to resent the kind of life she had fallen into.
I expected this to be more about mob mentality and less about the aftermath of a mob attack. I kept waiting for a twist at the end that didn't really happen. Instead it's a very subtle depiction of what it feels like to have been part an active part of mob violence.
The Snake 4/5
This one was my favorite because it's thoroughly unsettling in its minute description of animals and the appearance of a lady with an uncomfortable fascination for snakes.
The Chrysanthemums 2/5
It wasn't bad but I didn't really care for this woman who seemed to resent the kind of life she had fallen into.
May 13, 2019
کتاب صوتی دربارهی مردی است که در میان جمعیت زیاد،اعدام فردی گناهکار را نظارهگر است!
اگه مبحثی برای اعدام باشه،این داستان میتوونه نمونه ی خوبی باشه!
و این سوال پیش میاد: که با بدترین و شنیع ترین آدمها،چه باید کرد؟!
من فکر میکنم که جواب این سوال نیاز به انبوهی از جوابهای روانشناسان،جامعه شناسان،مردم شناسان و دیگر متخصصین علوم انسانی باشه!
[علوم انسانی در اینجا در دلِ جامعه،خیلی نمود پیدا میکنه نه سر کلاس و دانشگاه]
اگه مبحثی برای اعدام باشه،این داستان میتوونه نمونه ی خوبی باشه!
و این سوال پیش میاد: که با بدترین و شنیع ترین آدمها،چه باید کرد؟!
من فکر میکنم که جواب این سوال نیاز به انبوهی از جوابهای روانشناسان،جامعه شناسان،مردم شناسان و دیگر متخصصین علوم انسانی باشه!
[علوم انسانی در اینجا در دلِ جامعه،خیلی نمود پیدا میکنه نه سر کلاس و دانشگاه]
August 3, 2019
4/5 stars
These short stories are phenomenally well-written. I had no idea what any of them were about before reading this book, so I had no expectations. I thought this was a perfect way to dive into these compelling stories that dealt with many varying issues. This was a really short book (only 50 pages or so), but each story felt well fleshed out. I very much admire John Steinbeck as a writer, and these stories just cement that for me.
These short stories are phenomenally well-written. I had no idea what any of them were about before reading this book, so I had no expectations. I thought this was a perfect way to dive into these compelling stories that dealt with many varying issues. This was a really short book (only 50 pages or so), but each story felt well fleshed out. I very much admire John Steinbeck as a writer, and these stories just cement that for me.
May 21, 2018
This mini collection of three of Steinbeck’s short stories is fantastic and a fine way to get to know his work. The title story, The Vigilante, was the best, but it was also bleak. That’s why I liked it.
June 20, 2022
A slim volume of short stories - part of Penguins mini's series
The vigilante. A sobering matter of fact description of a lynching and one participant therein, presented as just another slightly bothersome task to be done. Chilling and powerful
The snake. The doc from Cannery Road receives a visit from an intense young lady. She wants to buy a snake and watch it eat a rat. He is happy to oblige.
The Chrysanthemums. A tinker use his charm to cajole a woman into buying from him. She feels used when she realises what he has done.
I enjoyed these tales very much
The vigilante. A sobering matter of fact description of a lynching and one participant therein, presented as just another slightly bothersome task to be done. Chilling and powerful
The snake. The doc from Cannery Road receives a visit from an intense young lady. She wants to buy a snake and watch it eat a rat. He is happy to oblige.
The Chrysanthemums. A tinker use his charm to cajole a woman into buying from him. She feels used when she realises what he has done.
I enjoyed these tales very much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2020
I have loved John Steinbeck ever since I read The Grapes of Wrath when I was 18 years old. Since then I have read many of this novels and novellas, but none of his short stories. This little book helped to remedy this deficit. Only three short stories but they read smoothly and easily and yet have quite a powerful effect. They have made me want to seek out the book of short stories from which they were taken, The Long Valley.
December 26, 2018
3,85/5
Steinbeck knows what he’s doing
Steinbeck knows what he’s doing
July 30, 2025
Penguin lo ha vuelto a hacer. Y es que en esta recopilación de relatos de John Steinbeck, titulada El vigilante (The Vigilante en inglés. Y no, no estoy equivocada.) el Steinbeck que conocemos, el que narra situaciones difíciles sin juzgar ni lamentar, desaparece para dejar paso a un escritor muy diferente, casi vulgar que no logra convencer ni agradar. Y eso en un libro de 55 páginas es un crimen que debería estar tipificado en el código penal.
¿Qué podría decir de John Steinbeck que no se haya dicho ya? Premio Nobel en 1962, es un autor excelente que cuenta con una prosa rica, compleja y con una ejecución fascinante. Para ello usa una prosa dinámica, ingeniosa y con un desarrollo magnífico, un lenguaje funcional y llano y unas descripciones profundas, coloridas y tan visuales que te parece que estés dentro del texto.
En esta recopilación de cuentos del autor nos encontramos con tres relatos curiosos. No se puede decir que posean demasiados elementos en común más allá de la ubicación geográfica de los mismos. En El vigilante (The vigilante) un individuo común y corriente forma parte de una turba que mata a un hombre de color. No sabemos de que crimen se le acusa, pero está claro que la ciudad le considera culpable y le ejecuta. Nuestro observador no juzga o condena. Se limita a contar lo que ha ocurrido de manera sencilla y desapasionada. El segundo relato, la serpiente (The snake) es bastante extraño. Un herpetólogo apasionado conoce a una mujer que le compra una serpiente de cascabel. Pero la señora no quiere llevársela, solo quiere dejarla en el terrario y venir a observarla. La charla que se establece entre el científico y la mujer es tan perturbadora que te pone los pelos de punta. El último relato, Los crisantemos (The chrysanthemums) es más claro que los anteriores ya que trata sobre el manido tema de la insatisfacción vital que cada persona desarrolla alguna vez en su vida. En este caso, una flor es el símbolo que el autor escoge para que su protagonista descubra que no es feliz con su situación actual.
En resumen, El vigilante, es una compilación de obras que solo despierta tu indiferencia. Y no creo que sea justo usar esta edición como primer acercamiento para conocer la obra de este gran autor. Siento que la selección ha sido muy random, sin ningún criterio en común. A pesar de ello es una lectura entretenida aunque no brillante ni tampoco estimulante. Así que la recomiendo solo si tenéis mucho tiempo para gastar y ninguna lectura mejor a la vista.
¿Qué podría decir de John Steinbeck que no se haya dicho ya? Premio Nobel en 1962, es un autor excelente que cuenta con una prosa rica, compleja y con una ejecución fascinante. Para ello usa una prosa dinámica, ingeniosa y con un desarrollo magnífico, un lenguaje funcional y llano y unas descripciones profundas, coloridas y tan visuales que te parece que estés dentro del texto.
En esta recopilación de cuentos del autor nos encontramos con tres relatos curiosos. No se puede decir que posean demasiados elementos en común más allá de la ubicación geográfica de los mismos. En El vigilante (The vigilante) un individuo común y corriente forma parte de una turba que mata a un hombre de color. No sabemos de que crimen se le acusa, pero está claro que la ciudad le considera culpable y le ejecuta. Nuestro observador no juzga o condena. Se limita a contar lo que ha ocurrido de manera sencilla y desapasionada. El segundo relato, la serpiente (The snake) es bastante extraño. Un herpetólogo apasionado conoce a una mujer que le compra una serpiente de cascabel. Pero la señora no quiere llevársela, solo quiere dejarla en el terrario y venir a observarla. La charla que se establece entre el científico y la mujer es tan perturbadora que te pone los pelos de punta. El último relato, Los crisantemos (The chrysanthemums) es más claro que los anteriores ya que trata sobre el manido tema de la insatisfacción vital que cada persona desarrolla alguna vez en su vida. En este caso, una flor es el símbolo que el autor escoge para que su protagonista descubra que no es feliz con su situación actual.
En resumen, El vigilante, es una compilación de obras que solo despierta tu indiferencia. Y no creo que sea justo usar esta edición como primer acercamiento para conocer la obra de este gran autor. Siento que la selección ha sido muy random, sin ningún criterio en común. A pesar de ello es una lectura entretenida aunque no brillante ni tampoco estimulante. Así que la recomiendo solo si tenéis mucho tiempo para gastar y ninguna lectura mejor a la vista.
December 27, 2020
Disturbing and purposeless short stories barely buoyed by Steinbeck’s prose. If you’re going to write a lynching (or, story two, animal killing) from the perspective of a racist at least give the story nuance, consequence or purpose. I’m now left wondering why the hell someone thought it was a good birthday present to get me...
June 16, 2018
کتاب صوتی مزدور را با صدای رضا عمرانی به صورت رایگان از ماه آوا دریافت کنید؛
http://maahava.com/MCIP
کتاب صوتی به سبک ماه آوا
http://maahava.com/MCIP
کتاب صوتی به سبک ماه آوا
April 3, 2025
سه و نیم ستاره
لینچ، اعدام ،پس از اعدام
و احساسات یک نفر که در تمامی این لحظات حضور داشته است.
لینچ، اعدام ،پس از اعدام
و احساسات یک نفر که در تمامی این لحظات حضور داشته است.
January 24, 2020
این داستان کوتاه روایت اعدام یک مرد سیاهپوست ِ بیگناه است.
به نظر من در این داستان اشتاین بک قصد داره وحشیگری مردم در قبال یک فرد بیگناه و بیپناه رو از منظر شخصی که در این جنابت دست داشته، و بالطبع عذاب وجدانی رو که بعداز این گناه(قتل) دامنگیرش شده رو نشون بده...
به نظر من در این داستان اشتاین بک قصد داره وحشیگری مردم در قبال یک فرد بیگناه و بیپناه رو از منظر شخصی که در این جنابت دست داشته، و بالطبع عذاب وجدانی رو که بعداز این گناه(قتل) دامنگیرش شده رو نشون بده...
August 26, 2018
John Steinbeck is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. These three short stories are incredible.
November 20, 2025
[5⭐️]
The Vigilante
Rating:5⭐️
Summary:
A brief but devastating story about the aftermath of a violent mob attack on a black man in prison. It explores vigilantism, collective brutality, and the unsettling euphoria the crowd feels afterward.
Review:
Steinbeck offers no moral commentary and no explanation. He simply presents the inner world of the nameless narrator as he absorbs what the mob has done, a mob he participated in from beginning to end. The result is chilling. The stark neutrality forces the reader to confront the horror without the safety of authorial guidance.
As a reader, you are left with a cascade of unanswered questions. Is this justice? Was the victim guilty? Why did they feel compelled to kill him? Was it his skin color alone? Why does no one feel remorse? How does such a thing unfold so easily? Steinbeck refuses to answer any of it, because the point is not to soothe or to resolve. The point is to provoke thought, to leave the reader uneasy and questioning the mechanisms of violence, racism, and collective power. I love stories that demand the reader think rather than passively consume.
The quiet yet sharp commentary on power structures and the politics of mob rule makes this story unforgettable.
The Snake
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Summary:
A young doctor receives a strange visit from a mysterious woman who becomes fascinated with his laboratory snakes.
Review:
The laboratory atmosphere immediately reminded me of Cannery Row, which explains why this story appealed to me so much. Steinbeck has an incredible talent for making even the most routine, monotonous tasks feel compelling. His descriptions of simple laboratory work become oddly hypnotic.
The story carries a lingering sense of mystery, especially through the woman’s eerie fascination with the snakes. I found myself wishing it were longer, so the characters could be explored in more depth, yet Steinbeck still manages to create two distinct and memorable personalities in fewer than twenty pages. It is quiet, strange, and wonderfully crafted.
The Chrysanthemums
Rating:5⭐️
Summary:
A portrait of a woman living on a farm with her husband, devoted to her chrysanthemums. The flowers become a symbol of her frustrations and confinement within a male dominated world.
Review:
I initially struggled to understand this story because Steinbeck relies heavily on symbolism. Yet once the pieces began falling into place, I found it to be a brilliant commentary on the emotional and social constraints placed on women.
Elisa’s internal conflict between her more masculine strength and her feminine longing is drawn with impressive subtlety. The story becomes a quiet but powerful examination of unfulfilled potential, gender roles, and the small humiliations that shape a woman’s life. It is a story that rewards careful thought and analysis, and its emotional undercurrent is surprisingly strong.
“It’s the most beautiful thing in the world,” the young man said. His veins were throbbing. “It’s the most terrible thing in the world.”
The Vigilante
Rating:5⭐️
Summary:
A brief but devastating story about the aftermath of a violent mob attack on a black man in prison. It explores vigilantism, collective brutality, and the unsettling euphoria the crowd feels afterward.
Review:
Steinbeck offers no moral commentary and no explanation. He simply presents the inner world of the nameless narrator as he absorbs what the mob has done, a mob he participated in from beginning to end. The result is chilling. The stark neutrality forces the reader to confront the horror without the safety of authorial guidance.
As a reader, you are left with a cascade of unanswered questions. Is this justice? Was the victim guilty? Why did they feel compelled to kill him? Was it his skin color alone? Why does no one feel remorse? How does such a thing unfold so easily? Steinbeck refuses to answer any of it, because the point is not to soothe or to resolve. The point is to provoke thought, to leave the reader uneasy and questioning the mechanisms of violence, racism, and collective power. I love stories that demand the reader think rather than passively consume.
The quiet yet sharp commentary on power structures and the politics of mob rule makes this story unforgettable.
The Snake
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Summary:
A young doctor receives a strange visit from a mysterious woman who becomes fascinated with his laboratory snakes.
Review:
The laboratory atmosphere immediately reminded me of Cannery Row, which explains why this story appealed to me so much. Steinbeck has an incredible talent for making even the most routine, monotonous tasks feel compelling. His descriptions of simple laboratory work become oddly hypnotic.
The story carries a lingering sense of mystery, especially through the woman’s eerie fascination with the snakes. I found myself wishing it were longer, so the characters could be explored in more depth, yet Steinbeck still manages to create two distinct and memorable personalities in fewer than twenty pages. It is quiet, strange, and wonderfully crafted.
The Chrysanthemums
Rating:5⭐️
Summary:
A portrait of a woman living on a farm with her husband, devoted to her chrysanthemums. The flowers become a symbol of her frustrations and confinement within a male dominated world.
Review:
I initially struggled to understand this story because Steinbeck relies heavily on symbolism. Yet once the pieces began falling into place, I found it to be a brilliant commentary on the emotional and social constraints placed on women.
Elisa’s internal conflict between her more masculine strength and her feminine longing is drawn with impressive subtlety. The story becomes a quiet but powerful examination of unfulfilled potential, gender roles, and the small humiliations that shape a woman’s life. It is a story that rewards careful thought and analysis, and its emotional undercurrent is surprisingly strong.
May 7, 2025
I’ve never felt completely at ease with short stories, I often feel that I miss their full depth or meaning. Lately, ChatGPT has been a real help in unpacking their themes and nuances, making these quick reads much more rewarding.
This collection features three short stories by John Steinbeck, each with its own distinct focus.
The Vigilante explores racism and mob violence, offering a chilling look at guilt through the eyes of a man who participated in a lynching. His emotional numbness and quiet unease afterward linger long after the story ends.
The Snake was the most bizarre of the three. It centers on a strange encounter between a scientist and a mysterious woman, highlighting humanity’s eerie fascination with death and nature. I think I loved it because the scientist seemed just as unsettled as I was — it made the story oddly relatable.
The final story, The Chrysanthemums, gently unfolds themes of loneliness, gender roles, and quiet betrayal. It’s a simple narrative on the surface, but deeply emotional, and leaves a lasting impression.
Though beautifully written, each story left me wanting more — but maybe that’s just the nature of short stories. They don’t always tie everything up neatly, but they definitely leave you thinking.
This collection features three short stories by John Steinbeck, each with its own distinct focus.
The Vigilante explores racism and mob violence, offering a chilling look at guilt through the eyes of a man who participated in a lynching. His emotional numbness and quiet unease afterward linger long after the story ends.
The Snake was the most bizarre of the three. It centers on a strange encounter between a scientist and a mysterious woman, highlighting humanity’s eerie fascination with death and nature. I think I loved it because the scientist seemed just as unsettled as I was — it made the story oddly relatable.
The final story, The Chrysanthemums, gently unfolds themes of loneliness, gender roles, and quiet betrayal. It’s a simple narrative on the surface, but deeply emotional, and leaves a lasting impression.
Though beautifully written, each story left me wanting more — but maybe that’s just the nature of short stories. They don’t always tie everything up neatly, but they definitely leave you thinking.
August 22, 2021
This is a surprisingly unsettling group of stories, almost verging on horror in the way they make the stomach squirm while you're reading them. "The Vigilante" is focused on the aftermath of a lynching and the creeping regret one of the participants seems to feel as the night stretches out. "The Snake" is downright disturbing, though it's not clear whether the scientist or his strange visitor is more the monster. And finally "The Chrysanthemums" is an odd little story about a dissatisfied wife, a strange visitor, and the poignancy of small betrayals.
Steinbeck is a wonderful writer, and these are great stories, well off the path of Steinbeck's longer works.
Steinbeck is a wonderful writer, and these are great stories, well off the path of Steinbeck's longer works.
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