Length: 867 words (3.2 pages)
Rating: Red (FREE)      
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Observations on The Grapes of Wrath  

 

As you approach your home, you realize the empty barn and the crooked house sagging close to the barren ground. A closer view unveils an empty, dried up well, an emaciated cat limping past the caved in porch, a tree with "leaves tattered and scraggly as a molting chicken" (23), a stack of rotting untouched lumber and cracked, jagged window panes reflecting the desolate land abroad. This description portrays the Joad family's home suffering from abandonment when they leave their country home life for better opportunities in the west. Steinbeck portrays the plight of the migrant Joad family from Oklahoma to California in search of a better life during the Great Depression in The Grapes of Wrath.

 

As the strong-headed, independent and protagonistic Tom Joad heads toward the country to finally reunite with his family after serving four years in prison, he meets the preaching character, Jim Casy (ironically having the same initials as Jesus Christ). They both unfortunately observe how the horrific effects of a dust bowl during the depression impact the average hard working family. The Joad family prepares for the difficult journey across the country to the "promised" land where ignorance leads the Joad family to search for the American dream in the long lost land of California. Problems transpire contiguously as Grama and Grampa Joad die, their vehicle breaks down, money becomes a non-existant necessity, Tom gets into trouble after killing Casy's murderer, and the sickly, whiny daughter, Rose of Sharon, gives birth to a dead baby because of malnutrition. Grama and Grampa Joad cannot endure the difficult journey in the beginning, hence, at their old age, rot away in the back of the vehicle. When the vehicle breaks down, the Joad family gets overcharged for parts that don't function properly, teaching them the dishonesty their society transcends. When Casy gets killed, Tom's anger for his friend inflames as he fights the murderer, causing him to become a fugitive with the law. Rose of Sharon eventually gives birth at the end of the novel, only to discover the baby is dead. The strong, resolute Ma Joad helps maintain family unity as they undergo hardships and demonstrate dynamic attributes for their shift of concerns about their personal welfare to concern of all the people of the world. After various temporary homes prove unsuitable for the family, the resulting home for them includes an old barn with a homeless man, where they realize their happiness in each other's company. The decline of the family and the economic situation are accompanied by and increase in acceptance of a larger view of humanity. Essentially, The Grapes of Wrath becomes a plea for the landowners of California to be more tolerant.

 

Steinbeck's specific writing style allow him to display his views of society through certain characters while yearning to modify the cruel, unjust society Americans live in. Ordinary people strive to preserve their humanity in the face of social and economic desperation. His use of non-narrative chapters allows the reader to understand Steinbeck's desire to change society. These chapters don't consist of characters or dialect for the sole purpose of portraying the effects of general occurrences (the background of the dust bowl, the selling of property, ownership of land in California) on any uneducated family in the south, not just the Joad family. The narrative chapters include basic dialect to capture the realistic nature of the characters' speech, such as "it ain't that I'm tryin' to git trade outa rich folks," (162). The entire novel shows the perspective from the innocent, helpless family being impacted by the powerful, destructive government and greedy, rich people. As the Joad family encounters various families in the same situation, Steinbeck shows that some people are selfish while others care about helping their world. The people with money treated the dregs of society as dirt, while they treated each other with respect and brotherhood.

 

Obviously Steinbeck sympathizes with the common man, seeing the government and the elite as the untrusting enemy holding back the man from reaching a better, more comfortable life. Ma Joad quotes "You couldn' trust nobody. But you can trus' us" 512). Steinbeck stresses family unity in hardship, for family will always defend you. Although Tom Joad and Jim Casy aren't family, Tom serves as Jim's "disciple" by representing Jim when he killed his murderer. His belief in transcendentalism (holiness and divinity of every man) is expressed through Jim Casy because Casy represents all good that Steinbeck wishes will exist in mankind, preaching and trying to solve problems. If Steinbeck could change society, he would make people more like Jim Casy.

The main antagonist in the novel is the government; obviously, the Joad family doesn't overcome this obstacle, but somehow learn to live with the difficulties transposed upon them. As a result, Steinbeck does not see an immediate answer to the problems that the government and rich people put upon the ordinary man, or the ending to his novel would present somewhat of a solution rather than a settlement. He hopes to educate and persuade the reader about the evils of "some rich bastard" (48) and the "damn govamen" (63).