Grapes of Wrath

             The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, is a story that follows a family living in the Midwest as they travel to California in search of a new beginning. The Joad family was one of many thousands that lost their home and land shortly after the depression. A horrible drought had fallen upon the mid-west. This drought ultimately resulted in banking institutions foreclosing on the properties of countless numbers of farms because the owners were not able pay their mortgages. Land that sustained life for families for generations was taken from them in what seemed to be matter of moments. These people lost everything and John Steinbeck's novel addresses this loss.
             The story opens with Tom Joad, the oldest son of Mr. And Mrs. Joad, being released from a four-year prison term. Tom murdered another man in what he claimed to be self-defense. Clearly, there are circumstances about this murder that the reader must try to understand without the help of the author. We are presented with only Tom Joad's interpretation of the event. This interpretation is certainly biased when one considers the final outcome. A murder in self-defense should not lead to a criminal conviction and a prison sentence. I believe there are two possibilities, and throughout the book there is evidence that supports both. The Joad family was very poor. Because of this, they may not have been able to afford the legal costs of an attorney to represent Tom in court. More likely though, is the possibility that Tom shared some of the blame for the
             altercation. We learn later in the book that he enjoys alcohol and he is more likely to face a confrontation with violence instead of turning away from it. Steinbeck is very careful not to let this type of personality portray Tom Joad as the bully type. Instead he works this into Tom Joad's life in a way that illustrates a man that is very strong and proud. These two virtues, strength and pride, are...

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Grapes of Wrath . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 18:37, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/65037.html