Grapes of Wrath book Dissertation Example

The Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath (1939). Penguin Books Limited, (1939). 313 pgs. Read 200 pages.

Summary

Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath is an account of the Joad family, which is on the move from Oklahoma to California. The novel’s setting is at the time of the Great Depression, one of the hardest periods of American History. The resilience of societies and families got tested as they left their homes to travel West and seek better opportunities in the fruit farms of California. The strength of the American people during the Great Depression contributed a lot to the modern American culture and was instrumental in the making of one of the greatest nations the world has ever seen.
Steinbeck’s book gives an account of people who are forced to move from place to place searching for opportunity. The Joad family in an effort to find a better life, moves from Sallisaw Oklahoma to Bakersfield California, through Northern Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. When they leave their Oklahoma home, they do not know whether the opportunities they have heard about really exist. Even after the perilous journey to California, they still move from camp to camp in search of work and a way to feed (Steinbeck 78-79). By the end of the book, the Joad family has moved from Bakersfield to Hooverville, ending up in Weedpatch. In the entire book, the Joad family is on the move looking for opportunities; first in Oklahoma where they pick cotton to get enough money to travel, and then in California where they move from Bakersfield to Weedpatch through Hooverville.

Analysis

Historical Fiction

The novel revolves around Tom Joad, and the family is the key historical figures along with other characters like Granma, Granpa, Jim Casy, Muley Graves, and Mr. and Mrs. Wainwrights. These characters are important in giving an account of people who are willing to invest in their personal development to get better opportunities and reflect on the struggles experienced during the era. For instance, during their travels from Oklahoma to California, Tom and Al discuss how other people studied at night, and how that gave them better work opportunities. They decide that when they get to California, they would work during the day and study at night, and use the acquired knowledge to open their businesses and give their family a better life. They also keep reminding one another of their strengths, such as when Noah tells Tom that he has what it takes to become a gifted mechanic (Steinbeck 9). Also, Al Joad says that he loves the insides of an engine and offers to help other people whose vehicles have broken down and even goes to look for spare parts for Ivy and Sairy Wilson’s car at night. The events in the story were set up during the Great American Depression that was experienced in 1929. During this period, the people also experienced the Dust Bowl, a condition caused by drought and high wind, which caused the people to move in search of fertile land.

The characters experience challenges with the economic depression faced during the period. The novel reveals account of the people who have to contend with a lot of competition to get work. During their journey, the Joad’s family comes across many other people who are also going to California to look for work. Even though they meet with people traveling back from California because of lack of opportunities there, they still proceed with the journey because they have nothing to go back to Oklahoma (Steinbeck 90). The high supply of labor with its low demand means that the farmers in California exploit the migrants. Even then, the Joad’s family moves from camp to camp, seeking job opportunities.

The migrating activity in the novel is intriguing. It reveals their hard work and the need to bring the change into their life by searching for new opportunities and ventures. At the start of their journey, every member of the Joad family is on the move, including their Grampa and Granma. As the journey continues, their Grampa dies, and later their Granma dies. This is very emotional and draws a lot of sympathy for the characters. Additionally, Joad’s family shows values such as compassion, unity, and love as they remain strong despite the challenges. However, the character like Tom portrays values such as murder that makes him face rejection.

Bibliographic History

Steinbeck’s book The Grapes of Wrath is an account of a family that lived through the difficult times of the Great Depression. The Joad family, representative of many American families at the time, faces a lot of adversity in their journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a better life. It is the resilience of the American people even under intense difficulty that helped them pull through the Great Depression, and build one of the greatest nations in the world. Even with the death of some of their family members and separation with others, the Joad family keeps moving and keeps trying to find a successful life.

Work Cited

• Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath (1939). Penguin Books Limited, (1939). 313 pgs