The novel The Grapes of Wrath is a powerful and impacting story. Throughout the book prejudices and social struggles are the outlining themes. It tells the story of a family traveling west in search of work. During these depressing times money, power, and social class were large issues. Every family struggled to succeed and often times were faced with life threatening situations. Viewing the story through a Marxist lens, one can see the effects of money, power, and social class. Money was important to migrant workers because it was their key to survival. Along with money came power. Power would allow for the workers to escape the exploitation brought forth by the business owners and banks. While fighting for money and power, class struggle became an issue. Migrant workers did nearly everything they could to advance themselves in social rank, while owners did everything to oppress them even more. One family largely affected was the Joad family. Kicked off their land, they were forced to head west in hope of getting jobs. These high expectations would allow the family to potentially break out of their current social class. Even though these opportunities for money, power, and social dignity were slim, families throughout the country, including the Joads, attempted to achieve this nearly unattainable goal.
             The Joads represent all the families that face constant financial struggle yet refuse to be broken. "After awhile the faces of the watching men lost their bemused perplexity and became hard and angry and resistant. Then the women knew they were safe and that there was no break." (Pg. 6). Steinbeck shows how the anger of the men was the driving force behind their rigidness. He makes an ironic point that anger and resistance could be the backbone to keeping a family together. Behind all the pain was something known as the "Monster". The "Monster" was not a person or even a group of perso...