pok-radbundit

172 º≈æ«ßÕ— π¢¡¢◊Ë π·Àà ß°√√¡ : The Winter of Our Discontent „πª√–‡∑»‰∑¬ The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Vol. 33 No. 3 Jul.-Sep. 2008 Abstract : The Bitter Fruit of Karma: The Winter of Our Discontent in Thailand Malithat Promathatavedi Associate Fellow of the Academy of Arts, The Royal Institute, Thailand The Winter of Our Discontent , the last novel of John Steinbeck, reflects the bitterness Steinbeck had towards the moral deterioration in the United States during the 1950s, resulting from material progress that did not go hand in hand with spiritual progress. The setting of this novel is a small town on the east coast and the protagonist is one who is effected by this deterioration when he allows himself to do bad deeds in order to get material gains. In the end he has to take the consequence of his acts, which coincides with the Law of Karma in Buddhism. Steinbeck, who had visited Thailand, appreciated the Thai way of life and hoped that it would remain despite the intrusion of material progress and globalization to the country. Key words : moral deterioration, material progress, spiritual progress, the Law of Karma