Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath is one of the most influential books in American History, and is considered to be his best work by many. It tells the story of one family’s hardship during the Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. The Joads were a hard-working family with a strong sense of togetherness and morals; they farmed their land and went about their business without bothering anyone. When the big drought came it forced them to sell the land they had lived on since before anyone can remember. Their oldest son, Tom, has been in jail the past four years and returns to find his childhood home abandoned. He learns his family has moved in with his uncle John and decides to travel a short distance to see them. He arrives only to learn they are packing up their belongings and moving to California, someplace where there is a promise of work and food. This sets the Joad family off on a long and arduous journey with one goal: to survive.

In this novel Steinbeck set forth with the intention of raising awareness to the general public of the difficulties and injustices these migrants faced during this period in time. It exposed the methods of the California farmer to use the migrants in order to lower their co

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They were hungry, and they were fierce. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there.

“Well, take it-all junk-and give me five dollars. You’re not buying only junk, you’re buying junked lives. And they had hoped to find a home, and they found only hatred. Buying a plow to plow your own children under, buying the arms and spirits that might have saved you. Steinbeck portrays the “Okies” in a way no one before him had, and also managed to keep their story true to life. “Scairt to get in the light,” Muley whispered. Upon hearing this Ma and Rosasharn exchange a knowing look. This is accompanied by the disintegration of the smaller family unit, which is replaced by the larger world family of the migrant people. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’- I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they knows supper’s ready. You’re buying a l!

ittle girl plaiting the forelocks, taking off her hair ribbon to make bows, standing back, head cocked, rubbing the soft noses with her cheek. ” (118)

There is a lot of symbolism throughout The Grapes of Wrath, in the form of events or even in the characters themselves. " (335) The irony is that if you need something you have to go to the people who have nothing.

Approximate Word count = 2416
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

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