John Steinbeck's 'The
Grapes of Wrath: A Tale of Hardship and Hope
I am so excited
to write this blog because I have been eagerly waiting to share my thoughts on The
Grapes of Wrath. In my previous blog, I discussed the Great Depression
and the Dust Bowl. To fully understand this blog, I suggest you read that post
first, as it outlines some factors that influenced the novel. America is one of
the most dominant countries in the world, but its rise to power was fraught
with disasters. The path to achieving this power was not easy for America. In
The Grapes of Wrath, we witness the adventure and hope of the Joad family. John
Steinbeck depicts the Joads as an ordinary American family facing extraordinary
hardships. Through their story, we experience the struggles and troubles that
many poor families in America endured on their journey to a better life. Sometimes,
we will find ourselves in a dilemma, and sometimes, even when we wish
otherwise, we will have to do things we do not prefer. The author provides us
with a different perspective, and I hope you will gain new insights when
reading this novel.
The Grapes of
Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, and was set during the period of the
Great Depression in the United States. In this novel, we will focus on the
Joad family who represent families experiencing the Great Depression. Through
the Joads, Steinbeck provides us with a clearer perspective to comprehend the effects of the Great Depression fully. Our protagonist, Tom got out of prison
and returned to his family moving into his uncle John’s house. Other members of the
family are Granma, Grampa, Pa Joad, Ma Joad, Noah Joad, Al Joad, daughter Rose
of Sharon and her husband Connie; and two youngest children Ruthie and
Winfield. Furthermore, Jim Casy, a former priest, joins them. The family is
forced to leave their home because of the landowners. Consequently, they decide
to move to find jobs and a better life for the family. The Joads set out for
California in hopes of living under better conditions. The setting is one of
the main themes in the novel, emphasizing the importance of the land. Steinbeck
illustrates the significance of the land itself for the people and the profound
effects of leaving their homeland. During this time, the condition of the land
is crucial for the survival of the people living on it and for their crops.
Our voyage is starting…
During their journey to
California, all the members of the Joad family undergo a range of emotions, However,
one member in particular, Grampa Joad, begins to act out of character. Back
when they were still in their homeland, he was a fierce, hardworking, and
somewhat angry man. Grampa wants to stay on his land, like Muley (Muley was a neighboır of the Joad family and
when all the families, including his own, left to find a better place, he did
not.) After the family stops and encounters another family who allows them to
put Grampa in their tent, Grampa falls ill with a fever. He becomes paralyzed
and ultimately passes away. The family buries his body, and then they gather
around a fire, eating dinner and discussing Grampa’s death. No matter what
happens, they have to continue on the road. Steinbeck masterfully depicts the
desperation of the people experiencing the
Great Depression. Grampa Joad experienced significant distress after being
compelled to leave his homeland due to circumstances beyond his control. This suffering
ultimately leads to his death. Granma
will be the second family member of the Joad family, who dies on the road. Another
significant setting is the highway, the road that the family travels on to
California. On one hand, the highway represents a path to something new, a
fresh start that the family believes will improve their lives. However, it is
also a place where unfortunate events occur, events that would never have
happened if they were able to remain at home.
As Rick Marshall argues in his
work called Steinbeck's Cognitive
Landscapes in "The Grapes of Wrath": The Highway as Commentary on
1930s Industrialization (2011), the highway was a way to escape for the
migrants, however, the highway does not mean freedom for them because it
represents the fact that they lost their homes. As mentioned earlier, the
highway is where both of the eldest family members, Grampa and Granma, pass
away. They were both fierce, strong, and respected members of the family.
Despite their age, they did not require assistance or care. Another unfortunate
event that occurs on the highway is Noah's departure from the family. Noah, the
eldest son of Ma and Pa, decides to stay behind when the family stops by a
stream in Arizona, near the California border. He believes that people do not
genuinely care for him and only tolerate his presence because he is a family
member. While the highway may initially appear to be a path to a better life
for the family by leading them to California, it is also a place where they
experience significant losses, losing several members along the way. The final
significant setting in the story is California, the promised land that lies at
the end of the highway. The Joad family anticipates a fresh start in
California, hoping for good jobs, a comfortable home, and a better life. The
family's decision to move to California is largely based on an advertisement,
which sets their expectations high.
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As the conditions of the road
are harder, people have to help each other to survive. In the novel, Steinbeck
shows that no matter who you are when you work together as a group, you will
achieve great results. For instance, as the family sets out, each member of the
family is aware of what needs to be done to prepare and what items to bring
along for the journey. Whether it's cleaning, preparing food, organizing the
car, or deciding what to take, everyone in the family knows their role.
Interestingly, they don't need to discuss or assign tasks—whether due to their
familial bond or not, they function as a cohesive unit, each understanding
their responsibility. This early example showcases the Joad family's ability to
work together seamlessly, without the need for verbal communication. Throughout
the story, they demonstrate that this unity extends beyond their family, proving
the benefits of collaboration with others. Now, we just observe that the family works excellently
as a unit. In the following parts, it will be demonstrated how strangers from
various parts of the country can collaborate effectively, focusing particularly
on women. This unity is evident when the Joad family finally arrives in
California, specifically at the Weedpatch camp. The Weedpatch camp is comprised
of people from diverse regions, beliefs, and backgrounds. Nevertheless, they
all cooperate seamlessly as one unified community within the camp. Following
their time at the Weedpatch camp, the family secures a job picking peaches at
Hooper's Ranch. However, this employment doesn't endure for long, prompting
them to move on. Later, they encounter boxcars with signs indicating the need
for cotton pickers. Opting to seize this opportunity, the family decides to
stay and work, with the added benefit of being able to live in one of the
boxcars. The Joads' new job brings improvement to their circumstances. With
regular income, they are able to afford dinner every night and purchase new
clothes.
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When The Joads are on their
way with Wilsons to California, they have to cross the desert. However, the
conditions of the desert are tough for the old family members of both families.
Wilsons prefer to stay, yet the Joads decide to cross the desert. In
particular, Ma is very decisive, even if she knows that crossing the desert has
a cost to her family. This cost would be the death of Ma. Steinback leaves us
in an ethical dilemma in this context:Are you on the side of the
Wilsons, who consider their family and take a break on the road, or the Joads,
who want to see the end of the road no matter what?
On the other hand, when the
Wilsons encounter car trouble with their broken-down vehicle, Al Joad's
automotive skills come in handy. In a mutual gesture, the Joads help the
Wilsons repair their car. This embodies the importance of helping others in
need, as one never knows when they may require assistance themselves. The
mutual helping extended by these two families, who serendipitously cross paths
on the road, highlights the selflessness and compassion inherent in human
nature.
Despite the Joad family having
barely enough food for themselves, Ma Joad shows admirably good character.
After Granma’s death, the family stops at the closest camp near Bakersfield.
Several other migrant families are already camping there. After settling down,
Ma starts cooking dinner. Several other migrant families are already camping
there. After settling down, Ma begins to prepare dinner. After a while, the
fifteen children stand silently and watch. They feel embarrassed to be there,
but they remain nonetheless. Ma learns from the children that some of them
hadn't even had breakfast. Ma shares the food among the Joad family but ensures
there's enough left to share with the children. Even though this means each of
her own family members will receive a little less food than usual, Ma still
chooses to do it. As a mother herself, she cannot bear to see starving
children. Furthermore, her strong morals compel her to ensure that the children
do not go hungry.
At the end of the story, a
profoundly significant act of morality and strength occurs. Rose of Sharon, the
eldest daughter of the family, gives birth to a stillborn baby during a flood
while the family is living in boxcars and picking cotton. The flood compels the
family to leave, and they come across an old barn where they find a little boy
with his sick and starving father. Despite their own hardships, the Joads
choose to stay and help the boy and his father. The boy expresses concern about
his father starving to death and implores the Joads for help. In a moment of
shared silence and understanding between Ma and Rose of Sharon, they grasp what
needs to be done. Despite Rose of Sharon mourning her dead baby, she selflessly
offers her breast milk to the dying old man so he can survive. This act of
compassion is extraordinary, especially considering Rose of Sharon's young age
and the discomfort she may feel in offering her breast milk to an older man.
However, she recognizes that it is a moral thing to do and acts accordingly.
The following chapter will
examine how the higher class, the powerful individuals, are depicted in the
novel, and how they exert their control over the lower or working class. The
powerless individuals are subject to the control of the higher class and lack
agency over their own lives, even during a national crisis like the Great
Depression. However, throughout the novel, there are instances where the
lower-class people begin to realize that they have the potential to wield power
over the higher class. Initially, an analysis will provide examples from the
novel illustrating how the powerful higher class or institutions are portrayed
in the story.
Some properties are owned by
companies or banks, and the owners men blame them as though the bank or company
were a monstrous entity, capable of thought and feeling, ensnaring them. The
banks are depicted as "machines and masters," while the owners are
portrayed as their "slaves." The banks, described as monsters, are
portrayed as needing profits constantly to survive, unable to wait or they will
perish. They are one part of the powerful upper class. The owner men, though
slightly less powerful than the banks or companies, still exert control over
the tenants, effectively enslaving them. The banks compel people to do jobs
they would not normally be morally capable of, exploiting the desperation of
hard times. People are encouraged by these entities to harm other families for
higher pay, with the implication that they are willing to do so for the sake of
their own families. The bank's influence drives people to act inhumanely,
demonstrating the extent of the upper class's power over the lower class.
In conclusion, the
communication between the powerful and the working class is often
reprehensible. There is a clear lack of equality in their interactions,
particularly evident when powerful entities, such as banks or companies,
are involved in taking away homes or exerting control over the working class.
Additionally, other powerful groups may feel the need to assert their
superiority by belittling the intelligence of the working class during
communication. This pattern of communication underscores the hierarchical power
dynamics at play, where the powerful seek to maintain their dominance and
control over the working class.
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