John Steinbeck's literary career was marked by formative struggles that shaped his writing. Growing up in California, he witnessed the trials of the Great Depression, which fueled his empathy for the working class. His early jobs as a laborer and fruit picker exposed him to the harsh realities faced by migrant workers, inspiring themes of social injustice and human resilience in his novels. Steinbeck's struggles with financial instability and publishing challenges also informed his perspectives on the American Dream. These life experiences culminated in iconic works like The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, showcasing the plight of the disenfranchised.