If the title Tortilla Flat tells us anything, it's that the novel is about a community. Steinbeck goes into painstaking detail to define the people who live in Tortilla Flat, and what interests him most is their interpersonal relationships.
Even though the residents of Tortilla Flat are almost all poor, and even though they're often involved in violent, liquor-fueled brawls, they also help each other and look out for one another, creating a tight-knit community.
Questions About Community
- How does race define the community of Tortilla Flat?
- How does the mini-community of Danny's friends fit into the larger community of Tortilla Flat?
- Why do you think that Steinbeck is so interested in this particular community? What makes it special?
- What is the role of gossip in forming the community?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
While they have race, language, and religion in common, the real factor that binds together the people of Tortilla Flat is their social class.
Danny's friends do not form part of the community of Tortilla Flat because they are like outlaws who steal from their neighbors.