Chapter One Summary

The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck is a story of Ethan Hawley, a man who has been approaching life complacently, then discovers that his family and friends consider him an abject failure. His struggle to determine the best course of action to regain the respect of those he loves includes a complete re-examination of all he has considered good and righteous, and to set a new course for his life. During the spring and early summer of 1960, circumstances and events occur that force Ethan to question even the purpose of life itself.

It is Good Friday morning, 1960, in the Hawley household in New Baytown. The main character, Ethan Allen Hawley, and his wife Mary have just woken up and are having a conversation. The couple discuss the religious holiday, the Biblical Romans, Ethan's forefathers of Pilgrims and whalers, and...