John Steinbeck and Ralph Waldo Emerson both promote their standings on life through their works. Although they are written from different points-of-view, the authors still convey their messages effectively. Steinbeck, through his novel The Grapes of Wrath, shows readers the hardships of people who found themselves subjected to the hostility of others. The Joads and many other families were forced to move from their homes because of the greed of people, and once to California, were forced to scramble for work in order to survive. They had hope, though, that they would some day have enough money to build a home and live comfortably and have a steady income. However, in both the essays "Nature" and "Self-Reliance", Emerson simply portrays his views on life and the way people live them. He believes people should not take nature for granted and ignore it, because nature is the origin of many things and is beautiful. Emerson also tells the readers that we should not live to fulfill others, but live on our own, and make ourselves happy.
             Steinbeck creates a sense of foreboding in his novel, and makes the readers feel as though the characters are going to have many troubles ahead. But the Joads keep moving on, pushing past struggle after struggle, set-back after set-back, still reaching for their goal. They have faith that they will someday live together in a house and have stability. Even as family members start dying, losing their will, and walking away forever, the rest continue to pull together. They seem to believe that whatever happens was meant to be, the past is in the past, and you just need to keep looking ahead. In one of the opening chapters, a turtle is found walking across the road determinedly. Tom Joad picks up the turtle and wraps it up in his coat to give to his brother. However, the turtle keeps trying to make an escape. Finally, he manages to get away, and once again heads in the direct
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