Grapes of Wrath Literature Assignment

Author John Steinbeck began writing novels in 1929, normally using fiction to explore the lives of the oppressed citizens and migrant workers during the economic decline and the depression. Steinbeck also wrote other popular books based in migrant workers: In Dubious Battle in 1936, Of Mice and Men in 1937, and Grapes of Wrath in 1939.

This novel begins during the beginning of the terrible years of Great Depression in the 1930s. In spite of the Great Depression, American farmers were already suffering economically years before. During the WWI European markets were inoperative and the supplies of food were short, it gave rise to crop prices and motivated American farmers borrow money from banks to invest in land and farming equipment. After the war European markers where back in business and the American farmers were unable to repay the loans. Banks began to foreclose and would evict families from homes. Harsh droughts then led to a huge agricultural collapse in the Southern Plains of the United States; this is the point where Steinbeck begins the story.

The Grapes of Wrath came out and sold near half a million copies and was on top of the best sellers chart. Many readers admire Steinbeck’s work till this point. From all novels Steinbeck’s produced, only the Grapes of Wrath had a huge impact in American society, a movie was also made and it also received the Pulitzer Prize award in 1940. This novel was financially successful and created criticism and controversy over social, political and economic changes. This book made people to recognize and realize the immorality that was happening to the United States, especially the exploitation on migrant workers. Steinbeck was then accused in Congress for radicalism.

Throughout the book characters play significant roles that have a purpose in order to understand the life during that time. The book focuses on the Joad family, and one member of the family is a protagonist of the story, named Tom Joad. Tom plays the role of an ex-convict that tries to guide the family throughout the story. Tom also is the one that speaks for the whole family, and is the one that usually decides what the family should do. Tom’s purpose in being in the book is to place the readers in a position of how it would be to maintain and manage a family at a wicked time where work was scarce. In a country surrounded by potential wickedness, there is some one that has to guide and protect the family and Tom feels of being responsible. The mother, Ma Joad, is also an important character with a strong purpose. Ma’s role is to keep the family from receiving cooked meals for every member of the Joad family. Ma’s purpose is to keep the family together and trying to prevent the cruel life. As for the role of a mother, it’s to let readers understand that a mother will always behave as a mother no matter the surroundings. The father/husband, Pa Joad is a contribution to the family’s health and unity. Pa’s purpose might be to make readers understand that even if one is not a leader one must follow for good purposes of the group. Jim Casey, a former reverend that is encountered and tags along with the Joads in the beginning of the story and play historical role. The Great Depression is a historical mark of the United States; therefore Jim Casey gives the insight of how labor workers are speaking out by performing strikes against unfair labor during the Great Depression. The author tries to fond the reader with Casey to make the reader understand the position that Casey plays in the story. Casey’s purpose is to provide sympathy to the reader and let the reader know what would happen if an agitator would speak out against unfair wages. Al Joad is another member of the Joad family with a purpose as well, but Al’s role is not so significant. Al is a 16 year old boy that is in that stage of liking girls and cars, however, Al is considered to be known as fixing cars or trucks. Al matures throughout the story while admiring big brother Tom, yet Al meets a girl at a working camp and eventually gets married.