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 known As the Great Depression. Steinbeck also wrote other popular books based on migrant workers: In Dubious Battle in 1936, Of Mice and Men in 1937, and Grapes of Wrath in 1939.

This novel begins in 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, which gave rise to crop prices and motivated American farmers to borrow money from banks to invest in land and farming equipment. After the war, European markets 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 and maybe 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 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 in the United States, especially the exploitation on migrant workers. Congress then accused Steinbeck for radicalism.

Throughout the book, characters play significant roles with significant purposes in order to let one 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, 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 has to let readers understand that a mother will always behave as a mother no matter the surroundings.

The father/husband of the Joad family is Pa Joad, and 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, 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 known to fix cars and trucks. Al matures throughout the story while admiring Tom. Al then meets a girl at a work camp and eventually get married. On can believe that Al’s purpose in the story is to let the reader know, no matter the circumstances, one would want to start a life on their own, perhaps a family.

Rose of Sharon Rivers is a somewhat immature sister and a daughter of the Joad family, yet Rose’s condition of being pregnant can have a symbolic meaning. One can believe that Rose can have a deep purpose in the story, but one must read the whole book to try to interpret the purpose. Despite the father of the child, close to the end of the story Rose looses the baby due to malnutrition, then by the end of the story Rose ends up breast-feeding a hungry stranger. One can interpret that Rose’s occurrence can symbolize re-growth, but the purpose can mean to let readers know that the innocent are dying. In other words, the baby and its sad death can represent the innocent that die in a horrible way.

The father of the baby is Connie Rivers, Rose’s husband’, had big dreams when arriving to California. Yet, before arriving, Connie abandons Rose. Connie has a purpose to let one interpret and understand the betrayal or abandonment of a person. For example, Connie represents potential American people that can help other people but are afraid of facing its responsibility. Rose represents the American people that need contribution for a better and happier life but are betrayed and abandoned by the potential American people.

Noah Joad is the oldest son of the Joad family, which also has a purpose to be in the book. Noah is injured at birth that might have caused a learning disorder. Noah then decides to leave the Joad family by planning to survive stay nearby a peaceful river. Noah’s purpose is to let the reader understand those people that want to avoid a struggling life. Noah knew by staying neat a river there would be food and water and the disorder can represent those people who are unable to face real life challenges.

Grandpa (William) Joad is a bit of a funny character with a purpose. When the family decides to leave to California, Grandpa decides to stay but is drugged up by Tom and Ma and is taken away on to California with the family. On the way to California, Grandpa soon dies of a stroke. Grandpa’s purpose is to make known that other people also decided to stay in their homes due to the spirit of being loyal to their homes. Grandma Joad is a religious old woman that dies after Grandpa’s death but does not quite bring out a significant purpose.

One small reason the Grapes of Wrath was chosen was due to a friend that highly recommended it and the title itself seemed quite curious. Another small reason of choosing this book was that John Steinbeck is a well-known author. However, the main reason was the quick search over the internet, and the resulted search made it seem appealing and desirable. Personally, American Indian history is somewhat quite boring, but American history itself such as low class struggle and political corruption is extremely fascinating and this book contains it.

The Grapes of Wrath is an edifying and didactic book. One can learn a lot of the Great Depression and migrant workers heading west after reading the book. The book can expand one’s understanding because details about the lives and feelings of migrant workers are stated and expressed in deep feelings. Its focus and viewpoint was on a typical family suffering financially, this family could represent the rest of the suffering families in America. This viewpoint focuses and describes the everyday life of a family who deeply suffered at the time of the Great Depression, and, it has the potential to create strong emotions on the reader. Ultimately, its potential can place one on a hopeless and suffering position, which makes one understand how these migrants lived their life. As the book is read, one’s concept about the Great Depression is now entirely understood in detail.

Despite the history, if a person loves to read books this book is a must-read. This book was extremely interesting that one wants to know what is next or what is going to happen. The book containing almost 600 pages was finished in less than a month due to the curiosity it has. This book should be highly recommended to history students because one can learn and actually live the lives of the poor migrants just by reading it.