Our innate human nature is one of the few things that ties us, as individuals, together. Our morals should be the foundation of what makes us human beings. During tragic times, humanity seems to break. Even through the toughest times in the history of mankind, we’ve seen humanity corrupt itself and lose sight of what it truly means to be human. In John Steinbeck’s, “The Vigilante”, the main character, Mike, is affected internally by what he’s just witnessed, including participating in a murder. He seeks comfort, amity among others, and reassurance as he explores the dark sides of human nature.
As he 's walking away from what he envisions as a black and white painting, Mike describes the streets as “cold” and “lonely.” As Mike starts to doubt his feelings, Steinbeck states, “Mike felt the stiffness, the unreality in himself, too” (94). One could view the stiffness as Mike’s body attempts to react in a positive manner, yet he is troubled by the obvious immoral event that has occurred. Stiffness means having trouble with controlling the mobility of one 's body, although, it could be seen as trouble within himself. Did he really do the right thing? Was murdering a man who might have been innocent the justifiable thing to do? The unreality within himself shows that he 's not so confident with having participated in the …show more content…
Dealing with the stressors from the lynching, heading to the bar didn 't seem like a bad idea. Steinbeck describes Mike’s feelings upon his arrival. He explains, “He hoped there would be people there, and talk, to remove this silence; and he hoped the men wouldn 't have been to the lynching” (95). In Mike’s eyes, the bar became a place of refuge. In reality, those attending bars are looking for a “getaway.” The bar serves as a symbol in the “The Vigilante” as a place to move on and forget. Experiencing what he did, it 's no question he sought out refuge in the
As he 's walking away from what he envisions as a black and white painting, Mike describes the streets as “cold” and “lonely.” As Mike starts to doubt his feelings, Steinbeck states, “Mike felt the stiffness, the unreality in himself, too” (94). One could view the stiffness as Mike’s body attempts to react in a positive manner, yet he is troubled by the obvious immoral event that has occurred. Stiffness means having trouble with controlling the mobility of one 's body, although, it could be seen as trouble within himself. Did he really do the right thing? Was murdering a man who might have been innocent the justifiable thing to do? The unreality within himself shows that he 's not so confident with having participated in the …show more content…
Dealing with the stressors from the lynching, heading to the bar didn 't seem like a bad idea. Steinbeck describes Mike’s feelings upon his arrival. He explains, “He hoped there would be people there, and talk, to remove this silence; and he hoped the men wouldn 't have been to the lynching” (95). In Mike’s eyes, the bar became a place of refuge. In reality, those attending bars are looking for a “getaway.” The bar serves as a symbol in the “The Vigilante” as a place to move on and forget. Experiencing what he did, it 's no question he sought out refuge in the