Summary
Tortilla Flat, John Steinbeck's 1935 novel, marked the author's first critical and commercial success. Set in Monterey, California, the story follows a group of paisanos—descendants of Spanish settlers—in the years following World War I. Steinbeck ingeniously adapts the structure and themes of Arthurian legend, creating a shabby “Camelot” populated by colorful characters who resist the pull of conventional society.
The novel's central figure, Danny, inherits two houses and becomes a reluctant landlord to his friends. These men, portrayed as modern-day knights, value friendship and freedom over material possessions. Steinbeck's vivid prose brings to life their adventures, brawls, and wine-drinking escapades, weaving a tale both humorous and poignant.
In 1942, Tortilla Flat was adapted into a film starring Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, and Hedy Lamarr. While the movie brought Steinbeck's characters to the silver screen, it's the novel's rich narrative and exploration of camaraderie that continue to captivate readers today. Steinbeck's portrayal of this tight-knit community offers a unique perspective on American life during the interwar period.
Plot
Set in the shabby district of Tortilla Flat above Monterey, California, Tortilla Flat follows the adventures of Danny and his group of paisano friends in the years following World War I. The story begins when Danny inherits two houses from his grandfather. After a drunken stint in jail, Danny invites his friend Pilon to share one of the houses with him.
As the story unfolds, more friends join Danny's circle, including Pablo, Jesus Maria, and the Pirate, a mentally challenged man with five loyal dogs. The group engages in various escapades, often centered around procuring wine and avoiding honest work. They sublet Danny's second house, which eventually burns down, leading them all to move into Danny's remaining home.
Throughout the novel, the friends embark on misadventures that include searching for buried treasure, helping the Pirate fulfill a religious vow, and assisting a local woman named Teresina Cortez and her numerous children. They also encounter romantic entanglements, such as Danny's relationship with Sweets Ramirez, which is complicated by a vacuum cleaner scheme.
The story takes a darker turn when Danny, overwhelmed by his responsibilities, disappears into the forest. His friends organize a grand party upon his return, but Danny, in a fit of melancholy and drunkenness, challenges everyone to fight and ultimately falls to his death in a gulch. The novel concludes with Danny's funeral and his friends watching as his house accidentally catches fire, symbolizing the end of their carefree life together.
Themes
Friendship and loyalty
Poverty and resourcefulness
Cultural identity and heritage
Freedom versus responsibility
Morality and ethics in difficult circumstances
The role of storytelling and myth
Conflict between individualism and community
Setting
Set in the aftermath of World War I, Tortilla Flat unfolds in the shabby hillside district above Monterey, California. This picturesque coastal town serves as the backdrop for Steinbeck's tale of camaraderie and adventure among a group of paisanos - men of mixed heritage claiming Spanish descent.
The novel's primary setting is Danny's house, which becomes a gathering place for his friends and fellow “knights". This dwelling takes on a symbolic role, akin to King Arthur's castle in Camelot. The surrounding area of Tortilla Flat, with its poverty-stricken yet vibrant community, plays a crucial part in shaping the characters' experiences and misadventures.
Beyond Danny's house, the story ventures into various locations around Monterey. These include Torelli's store, the local jail, the pine forest, and the San Carlos Church. Each of these settings contributes to the rich tapestry of the paisanos' world, offering opportunities for mischief, reflection, and the occasional brush with the law or divine intervention.
Characters
Danny: The central protagonist and leader of the group. Danny inherits two houses from his grandfather, sparking the events of the story. He is charismatic, generous, and prone to wild mood swings. Danny struggles with the responsibilities of property ownership and eventually retreats to the forest before his dramatic demise.
Pilon: Danny's clever and opportunistic friend. Pilon is always scheming to acquire wine and avoid honest work. He acts as both a voice of reason and a source of temptation for the group. Despite his cunning nature, Pilon remains loyal to Danny throughout their misadventures.
Pablo: Another of Danny's friends who moves into one of the inherited houses. Pablo is generally easygoing and content to follow Pilon's lead in their various schemes.
Jesus Maria Corcoran: A kindhearted member of Danny's group. Jesus Maria often gets into trouble due to his fondness for women and alcohol, but he also shows compassion for others in need.
The Pirate: A simple-minded man who lives with Danny's group along with his five dogs. The Pirate works honestly selling firewood and saves his money to buy a golden candlestick for St. Francis.
Big Joe Portagee: A large, troublesome friend who occasionally joins the group. Big Joe is prone to theft and drunken misadventures.
Tia Ignacia: A passionate woman who becomes involved with Big Joe Portagee. She beats him for not taking advantage of her while drunk.
Teresina Cortez: A prolific mother figure in the community. Teresina has many children and struggles to feed them all on beans and tortillas.
Quick facts
It was Steinbeck's first commercial and critical success, published in 1935.
The novel is loosely based on Arthurian legends, with Danny and his friends representing King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
The story is set in Monterey, California shortly after World War I.
The main characters are “paisanos” - a group of mixed Mexican-Indian-Spanish-Caucasian descent.
Steinbeck wrote the book in about six weeks after returning from his first trip to Mexico.
The novel was adapted into a film in 1942 starring Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr.
Some critics initially accused Steinbeck of portraying the characters as racial stereotypes.
Steinbeck donated the manuscript to the University of California.
The book's success allowed Steinbeck to buy his first house in Los Gatos, California.
Steinbeck revisited some of the themes and setting in his later novel Cannery Row.
About the Author
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was one of the most influential American authors of the 20th century. Born in Salinas, California, Steinbeck drew inspiration from his home state's landscapes and people throughout his writing career. He achieved his first major success with Tortilla Flat in 1935, followed by a string of acclaimed novels including Of Mice and Men and his masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath, which won both the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize.
Steinbeck's vivid portrayals of working-class and migrant characters struggling through the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era resonated deeply with readers. His writing style combined realism, rich symbolism, and social commentary. Though sometimes criticized for alleged communist sympathies, Steinbeck considered himself a proud American who sought to shine a light on injustice and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit.
In 1962, Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Though some critics felt his best work was behind him, the Nobel committee praised his 1961 novel The Winter of Our Discontent as a return to form. Steinbeck used his Nobel acceptance speech to affirm his belief in literature's power to inspire hope and human progress.
Beyond his novels, Steinbeck worked as a war correspondent during World War II and later traveled across America for his travelogue Travels with Charley. His legacy as one of America's greatest writers endures, with many of his works remaining staples in high school and college curricula. Steinbeck's hometown of Salinas honors him with the National Steinbeck Center, while the street that inspired Cannery Row in Monterey now bears that name in tribute to his influential novel.
