John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath, is a moving account of the social plight of Dustbowl farmers and is widely considered an American classic. The novel takes place during the depression of the 1930s in Oklahoma and all points west to California. Steinbeck uses the Joad family as a specific example of the general plight of the poor farmers. The Joads are forced off of their farm in Oklahoma by the banks and drought, and they, like many other families of the time, head out for the promised land of California. They endure much hardship along the way, and they finally make it to California only to find that work is scarce and human labor and life are cheap. Tom Joad, the eldest son in the family, starts the book freshly out of jail …show more content…
Tom retaliates in rage, killing a deputy, and forcing him into hiding. Alone all day long for weeks, he begins to think about the plight of the migrant workers and about what Jim was constantly babbling about. One thing that Jim Casy said close to his death, which Tom broads upon, has to do with a revelation that came to the preacher while he was in jail. He tells a group of followers '…one day they give us some beans that was sour. One fella started yellin', an' nothin' happened… then we all got to yellin'… By God! Then something happened! They come a-runnin', and they give us other stuff to eat'; (522). This was a telling example to Tom about the power of the group over one man. Tom reveals his thought evolution in the final meeting with his mother, before he leaves to continue the work of Jim Casy. He says, 'But I know now a fella ain't no good alone,'; and 'Two are better than one, because… if they fall, the one will lif' his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up'; (570). Peter Lisca, an extensive critic of Steinbeck's work, explains '…in is last meeting with his mother, in which he asserts his spiritual unity with all men, it is evident that he has moved from material and personal resentment to ethical indignation, from particulars to principles'; (Lisca 98). Tom clearly changes
The novel The Grapes of Wrath is in many ways a one-of-a-kind piece of literature. This work is set up unlike any other book, written in a series of chapters and inter-chapters, which do a remarkable job of informing the reader of the travels the characters in the book are going through. Not only does the story focus on the problems one family goes through, but explains the problem is happening to many more civilians than the story focus's on. Steinbeck does not leave out a single detail about the Joad family and their journey to California, and that in itself is what makes his writing so entertaining. Not only is this a very powerful topic to write about, but the remarkable writing style of author John Steinbeck makes this book a
Steinbeck exploits a disturbing and melancholy tone in The Grapes of Wrath in order to describe the desolation and destitution of California, once the Joad family arrives. A majority of the novel supports Steinbeck’s disturbing tone, especially with the novel set during the Great Depression; moreover, the setting of the novel proves parallel with Steinbeck’s disturbing tone. Many families traveled to California in attempts to begin a better life; however, many of the migrants discovered that California’s lifestyle did not meet any of the expectation many of the families had. The poverty, low wages, and unemployment that the Okies faced in California proved disappointing, and Steinbeck continually illustrates the struggles the Okies face to
One would say that on a literal level The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is about the Joad family's journey to California during The Dust Bowl. However, it is also about the unity of a family and the concept of birth and death, both literal and abstract. Along with this, the idea of a family unit is explored through these births and deaths.
John Steinbeck's epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, chronicles the struggles of the Joads as they join the thousands of fellow "Okies" in a mass migration westward. The Joads reluctantly leave behind their Oklahoma farm in search of work and food in California. While Steinbeck writes profoundly and emotionally about the political problems of the Great Depression, his characters also show evidence of a deep concern with spirituality. When they feel hopeless and are uncertain about their immediate future, their concentration on religion dwindles. On the other hand, when they leave their home, the Joads regain spiritual faith; they have something to live for: California. Once
In the year of 1939, the Great Depression affected the lives of many located within the United States. This was a severe, and most widespread depression which affected people across the world. For the reason that there was a fall of the stock market, a drought ravaged the agricultural heartland. Those who were dependent on their farmland to provide for their families became imposed by coercion to retreat and re-locate their entire families. This migration was a struggle during this period because the lack of resources and money to survive. Among other elements, starvation and homelessness caused many to die at an early age. John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath, exhibits the Joad's, a family who undergoes the collapse of the agrarian
Tom, though, is a very complicated individual who turns out to be a tremendous asset and burden to the family. His parole causes the family an unneeded worry, but does get work that helps the family. He is the main protagonist for his family and the main follower of Jim Casy's philosophy on human nature. Jim is much more of a talker and idealist, and he actually puts what he preached into action. Jim Casy is frequently compared with Jesus Christ and his lifestyle of preaching and leading people. As well as sacrificing himself for Tom and the Joad family which upholds his common held belief. Tom carries Jim’s message after his death and aids others with it. The Joad family, along with Jim Casy, shows the benefit of people uniting in order to accomplish goals and this is a lesson that the reader can take away from this novel.
hether it be more day-to-day, or expanding over a long period of time, Tom, Casy, and Ma went through many personal struggles. These struggles are brought up in the book, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Steinbeck provides many examples of these three characters struggles. The book, The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, depicts the personal struggles of the migrant worker through the characters of Tom, Casy, and Ma.
The book, Grapes of Wrath, follows the life of the Joad family, who live in Oklahoma during the Depression. The story begins with the return of Tom Joad from prison, where he has spent the last few years. He killed a boy in a bar fight and is now on parole. He is taken by surprise when he returns to Oklahoma only to find that his house is in ruins and his family is not there. He doesn’t know that, while he was gone, the banks forced his family and thousands of others off their land. Tom is accompanied by a former priest, Casey, who searches with Tom for his family. Tom and Casey find the Joad family at Tom’s uncle’s house. The family is preparing to move west to California in hopes that they
The story of Grapes of Wrath is first set in the late 1930s in Sallisaw, Oklahoma during not only the Great Depression, but also the Dust Bowl. Due to the banks and the government acting as monsters and devouring homes and land as well as the Dust Bowl resulting in the overuse of land, the Joad family is forced to leave their home in Oklahoma and search for a new start in California. Because many other families have packed up their belongings and have already left the surrounding homes in the area, the Joad family decides to leave as well. There are many variables that have driven the Joad family to pack up their things and to begin their long journey to California. Not only are they trying to escape from their suffering on their infertile land and government
Plot The Grapes of Wrath follows the trials and tribulations of the Joad family, a struggling group of farmers in Oklahoma after the devastating drought that created the Dust Bowl. Thanks to this natural disaster, the family can no longer support themselves through agriculture and must leave their home. Like many other families at the time, the Joads hear rumors of California having jobs, so they set out for California in search of a more promising future. The Joads experience many difficulties, deaths, and stops along the way, seeing all the different methods and solutions people have to cope with the Great Depression.
John Steinbeck’s book The Grapes of Wrath realistically portrayed the struggles encountered by a family, the Joads, during this time period. The widely-acclaimed novel chronicled the Joads’ journey from Oklahoma to California, where they came to find work after they lost their farm to dust storms. As the novel progresses,
In the Grapes of Wrath, a novel written in 1939 by author John Steinbeck, the reader is able to experience the Great Depression through the eyes of the Joads, a family who is driven from their farm in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and seeks refuge in the “plentiful” land of California. Through the Joads, one is able to fully understand and realize the reality that many families faced during the 1930s through both the experiences of the Joads and the attitudes of the author seen in this novel.
“They had no argument, no system, nothing but their numbers and their needs. When there was work for a man, ten men fought for it – fought with a low wage. If that fella’ll work for thirty cents, I’ll work for twenty-five”(Steinbeck). The renowned novel, The Grapes of Wrath, is a realistic portrayal of life and social conditions during the 30’s when the Dust Bowl swept across the nation, causing many to fall deeper into the depression. This caused many families to leave their homes in search of a safer and more hopeful land. The Grapes of Wrath follows Tom Joad, his family, and many other migrant farmers as they migrate from their Oklahoma farms into their new, hope filled life in California. The struggles that these characters endure
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel written by John Steinbeck. This story explains how Tom Joads and his family are forced to leave their home because a big business took over. This big business caused families to change their whole life style, as well as starting a whole new life at a brand new place. Steinbeck is trying to portray the disadvantage of a capitalist system through the landowners who are taking advantage of small farmers and their family through the use of symbolism.
The Grapes of Wrath is one of John Steinbeck’s most popular novels; it earned him the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 (Lauter). The book is about an Oklahoma farming family who has to travel to California in search of work, food, and money during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Along there journey family members die, people are abounded, and people are exploited (Gale Cengage). When the book was released it caused much commotion because of its