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Technology In The Grapes Of Wrath

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The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck reveals the hardships that sharecroppers face as technology develops through describing the Joad family's trip to California. Due to an unfavorable weather and the addition of tractors, the Joads are forced off of their farm because "[t]he tenant system won't work anymore. One man on a tractor can take the place of twelve or fourteen families" (44). The bank values a greater profit, therefore, replaces sharecroppers with tractors. As a result, the Joads begin their journey to California, searching for jobs in order to survive. As they prepare for the trip, Grampa, however, refuses to leave: "This here's my country. I b'long here [...] This country ain't no good, but it's my country" (152). Grampa wants …show more content…

The family has to deal with the native Californians who fear that these newcomers will take their jobs and their lands. These Californians try to keep the migrants out, and some even use violence to do so. In addition, the "[f]amily's fallin' apart" (294). Granma and Grampa died, and Noah and Connie leave the family. Although Ma tries to keep the family together, some of them leave unexpectedly through death and some leave willingly. The departure of family members stresses the Joads even more. Despite these difficulties, the journey is necessary because it is a quest that will allow the family to develop. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, the author explains that every trip is a quest. Following his structure for "quest," the Joads are the quester who has a stated reason to go to California, which is to find jobs. During the trip, the Joads face multiple obstacles: finance, deaths, transportation issues, and brutal policemen. These difficulties, however, bond the family. They work together to overcome these obstacles: "When the cars pulled into the camping places, each member had his duty and went to it without instruction" (267). Ma realizes the importance of family and tries to keep the family together. Tom also later realizes the power of people, and he expresses his anger toward the companies, "Well, s'pose them people got together an' says, 'Let em rot.' Wouldn' be long 'fore the price went up, by God" (336). If the people work together and not just one family but every family work together, people will have the power to fight against the companies and banks. So, learning the power of people and working together is the real reason for the

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