This paper explains how West makes his main points through the lives of his characters, which include Homer Simpson, Tod Hackett, and Faye Greener. In telling their stories, he uses powerful imagery to illustrate the moral decay of the people on the fringe of the entertainment industry. We begin to see the emptiness in the optimistic rags-to riches ideal. This paper also compares and contrasts the thoughts and work of John Steinbeck with those of Nathanael West. 8 pgs. 8 f/c. 7b.