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The Grapes Of Wrath And Jacob Lawrence's The Grapes Of Wrath

Decent Essays

During the Dust Bowl and Great Depression migration in the United States impacted the nation just as much as immigration did in the early twentieth century. The Dust Bowl was the time in which severe dust storms occurred in the South because the ground was so infertile from all the years of farming on it the wind would blow it away. Along with other agricultural and economic reasons it was during this time that many Southerners began their migration North in search of work. John Steinman’s, “The Grapes of Wrath” and Jacob Lawrence's, The Migration Series demonstrate one characteristic of the American Dream, the pursuit of happiness, through the theme of family both during times of need and difficult situations.
The mother figures had the job to take care of everyone and make sure the family remained together and one during their journey. One scene in “The Grapes of Wrath” the Joad family just arrived at a camp and Mama Joad was making food when all the kids around her came to see if they could be fed too. She knew she needed to take care of her family first and made sure that was a priority. After they were fed she extended her love and care to the children of the camp by offering them what was left of the remaining food. It was because of her nurturing persona she was able to find a way to feed the children as well her family. Panel 11 labeled “Food had doubled in price because of the war” (68-69) connects to this image of children begging for food. The panel depicts a

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