Steinbeck proposes that the individual is more important than the collective. The narrator states this explicitly in criticizing the industrial boom of the 19th century for creating a norm of valuing mass production. Creativity, says the narrator, can come only from the individual mind—and creativity is essential.

The novel’s character arcs demonstrate the importance of the individual over the collective. Cal must learn how to reckon with himself first, forgoing his expectations of love from his father or brother. Lee remains steadfast in his convictions and preaches that loneliness is precious. Charles and Cathy are extreme examples in that they function well on their own. Cathy wants total freedom, which requires that she remain solitary. Although she isn’t the ideal moral example, she has figured out the power of relying on oneself. Even Adam and Aron embody this in their own way: They’re selfish because they believe their worldviews and interpretations are the most important, and they think of the world around them only in terms of their convictions—whether those ideals are shallow or deep doesn’t matter. Many of the novel’s characters find themselves ruthlessly and painfully navigating human relationships. Although Steinbeck doesn’t want people to stop connecting with each other, the characters’ inner conflicts demonstrate that to first acknowledge your own responsibility and worth is paramount in achieving happiness, success, or peace of mind.