The Grapes The Grapes of Wrathof Wrath

John John SteinbeckSteinbeck

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTIONCritics have called John Steinbeck’s Critics have called John Steinbeck’s masterpiece masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath propaganda, sentimental, and obscenepropaganda, sentimental, and obscene—but half a century later, we are still —but half a century later, we are still moved by the story of the Joads and moved by the story of the Joads and the thousands like them who lost their the thousands like them who lost their land in the midst of the Great land in the midst of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the Depression and the Dust Bowl of the mid-Thirties. Think about this mid-Thirties. Think about this happening today?????????????happening today?????????????

In an age of concern over the plight of In an age of concern over the plight of America’s farmlands, earth’s fragile America’s farmlands, earth’s fragile environment, and the growing problem environment, and the growing problem of pollution, of pollution, The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath is still is still relevant. In an age when Third World relevant. In an age when Third World peoples are the “new Okies,” when peoples are the “new Okies,” when people step over the sleeping homeless people step over the sleeping homeless in our major cities, and the gap in our major cities, and the gap between rich and poor widens, between rich and poor widens, The The Grapes of Wrath Grapes of Wrath is still relevant. The is still relevant. The movement from “I” to “we” (this movement from “I” to “we” (this novel’s major theme) challenges every novel’s major theme) challenges every new generation of readers.new generation of readers.

VALUESVALUESAn appreciation for our common humanityAn appreciation for our common humanityThe need to work together to achieve a The need to work together to achieve a common goalcommon goalThe need for compassion and justice for the The need for compassion and justice for the oppressedoppressedThe importance of avoiding stereotypes and The importance of avoiding stereotypes and labelslabelsThe need to share what we have with others, The need to share what we have with others, especially the poorespecially the poor

VALUESVALUESThe importance of commitment to our The importance of commitment to our beliefsbeliefsA respect for our religious heritage and that A respect for our religious heritage and that of othersof othersThe realization that change is part of the The realization that change is part of the human conditionhuman conditionThe importance of caring about the earth The importance of caring about the earth and our environmentand our environmentAn understanding of the role of technology An understanding of the role of technology in societyin society

CONTROVERSIAL NOVELCONTROVERSIAL NOVELWhen first published, religious leaders When first published, religious leaders denounced it as obscene.denounced it as obscene.Oklahomans resented the portrayal of Oklahomans resented the portrayal of their citizens and their state.their citizens and their state.Californians insisted they were not as Californians insisted they were not as cruel as the picture Steinbeck painted cruel as the picture Steinbeck painted of them.of them.Many people called Steinbeck a Many people called Steinbeck a Communist.Communist.

SUPPORTERSSUPPORTERSBelieved his novel told the truth Believed his novel told the truth and were concerned enough to and were concerned enough to demand government actiondemand government actionAs a novel of social protest, As a novel of social protest, The The Grapes of Wrath Grapes of Wrath was a great was a great success. As a movie, it is a classic. success. As a movie, it is a classic. In today’s catalog of literature, it In today’s catalog of literature, it ranks as a timeless work of art. ranks as a timeless work of art.

STRUCTURESTRUCTUREThe novel is somewhat unusual in The novel is somewhat unusual in structure. The general story of the dust structure. The general story of the dust storms, the road west, shady business storms, the road west, shady business practices, and the migrant camps is told practices, and the migrant camps is told in chapters which alternate with the in chapters which alternate with the more specific story of one particular more specific story of one particular migrant family, the Joads. You will migrant family, the Joads. You will receive a factual history along with a receive a factual history along with a fictionalized example of how the historic fictionalized example of how the historic events affected one family.events affected one family.

THE JOADSTHE JOADS

The Joads represent all The Joads represent all migrants—and in fact all poor, migrants—and in fact all poor, uneducated people—in 1930s uneducated people—in 1930s America.America.

KEY FACTSKEY FACTSfull title · full title · The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath author  · John Steinbeckauthor  · John Steinbeck  type of work  · Noveltype of work  · Novel  genre  · Epic; realistic fiction; social commentary; genre  · Epic; realistic fiction; social commentary;

PROTEST NOVELPROTEST NOVEL  language  · Englishlanguage  · English  time and place written  · Late May–late October 1938, Los time and place written  · Late May–late October 1938, Los

Gatos, CAGatos, CA  

NARRATORNARRATOR

narrator  · An anonymous, all-narrator  · An anonymous, all-knowing, historically aware knowing, historically aware consciousness that is deeply consciousness that is deeply sympathetic, not only to the sympathetic, not only to the migrants but to workers, the migrants but to workers, the poor, and the dispossessed poor, and the dispossessed generally.generally.

POINT OF VIEWPOINT OF VIEWThe narrative shifts dramatically between different points of The narrative shifts dramatically between different points of view. In some chapters the narrator describes events view. In some chapters the narrator describes events broadly, summarizing the experiences of a large number of broadly, summarizing the experiences of a large number of people and providing historical analysis. Frequently, in the people and providing historical analysis. Frequently, in the same chapters, the narrator assumes the voice of a typical same chapters, the narrator assumes the voice of a typical individual, such as a displaced farmer or a crooked used-car individual, such as a displaced farmer or a crooked used-car salesman, expressing that person's individual concerns. salesman, expressing that person's individual concerns. When the narrator assumes the voice of an anonymous When the narrator assumes the voice of an anonymous individual, the words sometimes sound like what an actual individual, the words sometimes sound like what an actual person might say, but sometimes they form a highly poetic person might say, but sometimes they form a highly poetic representation of the anonymous individual's thoughts and representation of the anonymous individual's thoughts and soul. The chapters focusing on the Joad family are narrated soul. The chapters focusing on the Joad family are narrated primarily from an objective point of view, representing primarily from an objective point of view, representing conversations and interactions without focusing on any conversations and interactions without focusing on any particular character. Here, the characters' actions are particular character. Here, the characters' actions are presented as an observer might witness them, without presented as an observer might witness them, without directly representing the characters' thoughts and directly representing the characters' thoughts and motivations. At certain points, however, the narrator shifts motivations. At certain points, however, the narrator shifts and presents the Joads from an omniscient point of view, and presents the Joads from an omniscient point of view, explaining their psychologies, characters, and motivations in explaining their psychologies, characters, and motivations in intimate detail. intimate detail.

KEY FACTSKEY FACTStone tone  · Mournful, awed, enraged, sympathetic · Mournful, awed, enraged, sympathetic  tense tense  · Mainly past · Mainly past  setting (time) setting (time)  · Late 1930s · Late 1930s  setting (place) setting (place)  · Oklahoma, California, and  · Oklahoma, California, and points along the waypoints along the way  protagonist protagonist  · Tom Joad · Tom Joad

MAJOR CONFLICTMAJOR CONFLICTThe disastrous drought of the 1930s The disastrous drought of the 1930s forces farmers to migrate westward to forces farmers to migrate westward to California, pitting migrants against California, pitting migrants against locals and property owners against the locals and property owners against the destitute. Moreover, Tom Joad's story destitute. Moreover, Tom Joad's story dramatizes a conflict between the dramatizes a conflict between the impulse to respond to hardship and impulse to respond to hardship and disaster by focusing on one's own disaster by focusing on one's own needs and the impulse to risk one's needs and the impulse to risk one's safety by working for a common good. safety by working for a common good.

RISING ACTIONRISING ACTIONTom is released from prison, Tom is released from prison, determined to mind his own business; determined to mind his own business; Tom encounters the devastation of the Tom encounters the devastation of the Dust Bowl; Casy presents Tom with Dust Bowl; Casy presents Tom with his philosophy of the holiness of his philosophy of the holiness of human beings in general; Tom is human beings in general; Tom is drawn into the workers' movement.drawn into the workers' movement.  

THEMES AND MOTIFSTHEMES AND MOTIFSTHEMESTHEMESMan's inhumanity to man;Man's inhumanity to man; the saving power of family and fellowship; the saving power of family and fellowship; the dignity of wrath; the multiplying effects the dignity of wrath; the multiplying effects of altruism and selfishnessof altruism and selfishness

MOTIFMOTIF· Improvised leadership structures· Improvised leadership structures

MAIN THEMES AND IDEASMAIN THEMES AND IDEAS

1.1. RELIGIONRELIGION2.2. TRANSCENDENTALISMTRANSCENDENTALISM3.3. AGRARIANISM (AGRICULTURE)AGRARIANISM (AGRICULTURE)4.4. COMMUNISMCOMMUNISM5.5. ISOLATION AND LONELINESS ISOLATION AND LONELINESS 6.6. FAMILY AND THE EDUCATION OF FAMILY AND THE EDUCATION OF

THE HEARTTHE HEART

TitleTitle

The novel’s title is taken from The novel’s title is taken from Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (second Hymn of the Republic” (second stanza) with its militant spirit stanza) with its militant spirit that urges an oppressed group that urges an oppressed group to strive for victory over its to strive for victory over its oppressors.oppressors.

TITLETITLEBattle Hymn of the RepublicBattle Hymn of the Republic

Julia Ward HoweJulia Ward HoweMine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;wrath are stored;He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:sword:                       His truth is marching on.                       His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,camps,They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;damps;I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:lamps:                       His day is marching on.                       His day is marching on.

TITLE – SYMBOLIC LEVELTITLE – SYMBOLIC LEVEL

MIGRANTS CLUSTER TOGETHER MIGRANTS CLUSTER TOGETHER LIKE GRAPES, IN THEIR SHARED LIKE GRAPES, IN THEIR SHARED MISERY AND ANGER (WRATH). MISERY AND ANGER (WRATH). THEY SURVIVE PERSECUTION, THEY SURVIVE PERSECUTION, HARDSHIPS, AND EXPLOITATION HARDSHIPS, AND EXPLOITATION ONLY BECAUSE OF THEIR ONLY BECAUSE OF THEIR INVINCIBLE COURAGE.INVINCIBLE COURAGE.

TITLE – RELIGIOUS LEVELTITLE – RELIGIOUS LEVELREVELATION – THE EVIL PEOPLE REVELATION – THE EVIL PEOPLE WHO FOLLOW AFTER BABYLON WHO FOLLOW AFTER BABYLON (WICKEDNESS) WILL “DRINK OF THE (WICKEDNESS) WILL “DRINK OF THE WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD” AND WINE OF THE WRATH OF GOD” AND WILL BE TORMENTED. IN THE NOVEL, WILL BE TORMENTED. IN THE NOVEL, THIS HAPPENS TO THE WEALTHY THIS HAPPENS TO THE WEALTHY LANDOWNERS IN CALIFORNIA, LANDOWNERS IN CALIFORNIA, WHOSE EXPLOITATION OF THE WHOSE EXPLOITATION OF THE MIGRANTS LEADS TO WORKERS’ MIGRANTS LEADS TO WORKERS’ PROTEST AND STRIKES.PROTEST AND STRIKES.

TITLE – RELIGIOUS LEVELTITLE – RELIGIOUS LEVEL

GRAPES ARE A SYMBOL OF GRAPES ARE A SYMBOL OF FRUITFULNESS, BOUNTY, AND FRUITFULNESS, BOUNTY, AND PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE. PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE. GRAMPA SAYS, “GRAPES. GRAMPA SAYS, “GRAPES. THERE’S ONE THING I AIN’T THERE’S ONE THING I AIN’T NEVER HAD ENOUGH OF.”NEVER HAD ENOUGH OF.”

SYMBOLSSYMBOLSThe Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of WrathChristian symbolismChristian symbolism

SYMBOLSSYMBOLSRose of Sharon's Rose of Sharon's pregnancy; pregnancy; the death of the Joads' the death of the Joads' dog dog The TractorsThe Tractors

A TIME OF CHANGE: MOTIFS IN A TIME OF CHANGE: MOTIFS IN THE NOVELTHE NOVEL

Think about the role of technology in your Think about the role of technology in your life today????life today????Think about technology in manufacturing, Think about technology in manufacturing, medicine, and information medicine, and information accessibility????????accessibility????????Steinbeck wrote this novel before the Steinbeck wrote this novel before the computer revolution, but he was never an computer revolution, but he was never an anti-machine agrarian purist.anti-machine agrarian purist.He saw machines as offering possibilities for He saw machines as offering possibilities for a better life for all people.a better life for all people.

MACHINE AGE COMES TO OKMACHINE AGE COMES TO OK““The family met at the most important The family met at the most important place, near the truck.” chapter 10place, near the truck.” chapter 10The novel began with a poetic tribute to The novel began with a poetic tribute to the land and its people. the land and its people. Chapter 2 – the red, living earth is Chapter 2 – the red, living earth is replaced by a roaring, huge red truck.replaced by a roaring, huge red truck.Every chapter but 4 contains Every chapter but 4 contains references to cars, trucks, or tractors references to cars, trucks, or tractors (all negative except for the above (all negative except for the above passage).passage).

MACHINE AGE COMES TO OKMACHINE AGE COMES TO OKMachines are replacing the land and Machines are replacing the land and the farm as America becomes a nation the farm as America becomes a nation on the move.on the move.What does it mean to be human in a What does it mean to be human in a world that is becoming increasingly world that is becoming increasingly mechanized? mechanized? Chapter 11 (the 1Chapter 11 (the 1stst paragraph) says the paragraph) says the new MACHINE MAN has no “wonder” in new MACHINE MAN has no “wonder” in his work, loses understanding of his work, loses understanding of relationship between people and land, relationship between people and land, is contemptuous of the land and of is contemptuous of the land and of himself.-*himself.-*

CHANGESCHANGES““Times are changing, mister, don’t you Times are changing, mister, don’t you know?” chapter 5know?” chapter 5““Seems to me we don’t never come to Seems to me we don’t never come to nothin’. Always on the way.” chap. 13nothin’. Always on the way.” chap. 13““Thus they changed their social life—Thus they changed their social life—changed as in the whole universe only man changed as in the whole universe only man can change.”can change.”““The Western land, nervous under the The Western land, nervous under the beginning change. The Western States beginning change. The Western States nervous as horses before a thunder storm. nervous as horses before a thunder storm. The great owners, nervous, sensing a The great owners, nervous, sensing a change, knowing nothing of the nature of the change, knowing nothing of the nature of the change.” chapter 14change.” chapter 14

CONT.CONT.““They’re gonna come a thing that’s They’re gonna come a thing that’s gonna change the whole country.” gonna change the whole country.” chapter 16chapter 16““For here ‘I lost my land’ is For here ‘I lost my land’ is changed: a cell is split and from changed: a cell is split and from its splitting grows the thing you its splitting grows the thing you hate—’We lost our land’. . .This is hate—’We lost our land’. . .This is the beginning—from ‘I’ to ‘we.’” the beginning—from ‘I’ to ‘we.’” chapter 14chapter 14

FROM “I” TO “WE”FROM “I” TO “WE”From the first pages of this novel, the From the first pages of this novel, the reader senses a change has come over reader senses a change has come over the land. The red earth is turned to the land. The red earth is turned to gray dust. The tenant farmers are gray dust. The tenant farmers are pushed off their land and onto Highway pushed off their land and onto Highway 66 by debts and greedy owners. We 66 by debts and greedy owners. We see characters change, such as the see characters change, such as the service station owner of chapter 13, service station owner of chapter 13, who begins as a whining worrier and who begins as a whining worrier and ends up showing compassion when the ends up showing compassion when the Joads’ dog is run over, offering to Joads’ dog is run over, offering to “bury ‘im out in the corn field.”“bury ‘im out in the corn field.”3030

CHANGE IN THE “FAMBLY”CHANGE IN THE “FAMBLY”One of the biggest changes is One of the biggest changes is in the “fambly.”in the “fambly.”They have to leave their farm They have to leave their farm and Oklahoma.and Oklahoma.They have added Casey and They have added Casey and Wilsons to the “extended Wilsons to the “extended family.”family.”Grampa dies.Grampa dies.Their pet dog is hit by a CAR.Their pet dog is hit by a CAR.

CHANGES IN ATTITUDES CHANGES IN ATTITUDES (JOADS)(JOADS)

Ma seems to be opening her Ma seems to be opening her concept of family by allowing concept of family by allowing Casy and the Wilsons in.Casy and the Wilsons in.Tom seems to be reflecting on Tom seems to be reflecting on Casy’s message of universal Casy’s message of universal compassion for fellow human compassion for fellow human beings.beings.

THEME – FROM “I” TO “WE”THEME – FROM “I” TO “WE”

Our only way to survive as a Our only way to survive as a human race is to shift from human race is to shift from total independence to inter-total independence to inter-dependence.dependence.

John Steinbeck

RELIGIONRELIGION

Traditional, orthodox religion is seen in a Traditional, orthodox religion is seen in a negative light since it encourages individuals negative light since it encourages individuals to remain isolated and self-centered. Uncle to remain isolated and self-centered. Uncle John is preoccupied with guilt over his role John is preoccupied with guilt over his role in the death of his wife; a migrant woman in the death of his wife; a migrant woman sees everything in terms of sin and sees everything in terms of sin and punishment. Casey abandons orthodox punishment. Casey abandons orthodox religion in hopes of finding a deeper religion in hopes of finding a deeper awareness of life and the universe. The awareness of life and the universe. The understanding that he finally achieves is not understanding that he finally achieves is not “anti-religion,” but rather a way of translating “anti-religion,” but rather a way of translating religion into responsible, humane action.religion into responsible, humane action.

Christian Symbolism Christian Symbolism The JoadsThe Joads – – oppressed, homeless group (Israelites) oppressed, homeless group (Israelites) in search of the Promised Landin search of the Promised LandJim Casy – withdrawn from the church as Christ Jim Casy – withdrawn from the church as Christ withdrew from the old religionwithdrew from the old religionCasy went into the wilderness like Jesus to figure Casy went into the wilderness like Jesus to figure out something and form a new set of beliefs based out something and form a new set of beliefs based on love and unity among humanson love and unity among humansCasy has the same initials as Christ, feels the same Casy has the same initials as Christ, feels the same zest for teaching, gives himself as a sacrifice when zest for teaching, gives himself as a sacrifice when Tom is about to be arrested, and is killed in the Tom is about to be arrested, and is killed in the middle of a river as in the biblical crossing over middle of a river as in the biblical crossing over Jordan. Jordan. Christ’s last words before dying were: “Father Christ’s last words before dying were: “Father forgive them; they know not what they do.” Casy’s forgive them; they know not what they do.” Casy’s last words were: “You fellas don’t know what you’re last words were: “You fellas don’t know what you’re doin.” doin.”

Biblical ImageryBiblical ImageryThe novel’s three sections (drought, The novel’s three sections (drought, journey, and California) correspond journey, and California) correspond to the Israelites’ oppression in to the Israelites’ oppression in Egypt, the exodus, and the sojourn Egypt, the exodus, and the sojourn in the land of Canaan.in the land of Canaan.Instead of peace and prosperity, the Instead of peace and prosperity, the Joads are met with hunger and Joads are met with hunger and violence in California. They never violence in California. They never get the “promised land.”get the “promised land.”

Rose of SharonRose of SharonRose of Sharon’s name comes from “I Rose of Sharon’s name comes from “I (Christ) am the rose of Sharon and the lily of (Christ) am the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valley.” “This thy stature is like to a palm the valley.” “This thy stature is like to a palm tree and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.” tree and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.” (Canticles 2:1 and 7:7)(Canticles 2:1 and 7:7)Christians believe that Christ gives himself, Christians believe that Christ gives himself, body and blood, in the form of bread and body and blood, in the form of bread and wine. wine. Rose of Sharon truly gives of herself to bring Rose of Sharon truly gives of herself to bring life to the dying man, who would die without life to the dying man, who would die without the nourishment. Christ says, “I am the the nourishment. Christ says, “I am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35)Bread of Life.” (John 6:35)

Irony Irony Uncle John puts Rose of Sharon’s Uncle John puts Rose of Sharon’s stillborn child in an old apple crate and stillborn child in an old apple crate and floats it downstream and says, “Go floats it downstream and says, “Go down and tell’em.”down and tell’em.”Moses is the baby in the basket in the Moses is the baby in the basket in the Bible, and the irony is that he saved his Bible, and the irony is that he saved his people but the infant cannot tell them people but the infant cannot tell them because he is dead. Think about the because he is dead. Think about the connection between the actions that connection between the actions that have caused the infant’s death and have caused the infant’s death and selfishness.selfishness.

ThemeThemeOne of Steinbeck’s major themes (One of Steinbeck’s major themes (Of Of Mice and Men Mice and Men also) is humankind’s also) is humankind’s search for the Promise Land, a Garden search for the Promise Land, a Garden of Eden, “flowing with milk and honey.” of Eden, “flowing with milk and honey.” Concerning Tom and the snake, the Concerning Tom and the snake, the devil took the form of a serpent in the devil took the form of a serpent in the Garden of Eden in Genesis. The snake Garden of Eden in Genesis. The snake here is an omen that California will not here is an omen that California will not be a Paradise for them.be a Paradise for them.

TRANSCENDENTALISMTRANSCENDENTALISM When Casy says that “maybe all men got one When Casy says that “maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of,” he argues big soul ever’body’s a part of,” he argues that human kind as a whole is more that human kind as a whole is more important than any one individual. Casy important than any one individual. Casy goes so far as to argue that perhaps there is goes so far as to argue that perhaps there is no sin, that everything people do is “holy.” no sin, that everything people do is “holy.” Transcendentalists believe that a collective Transcendentalists believe that a collective unity of souls transcends or goes beyond the unity of souls transcends or goes beyond the individual soul. Casy comes to believe that individual soul. Casy comes to believe that people discover life’s true meaning only people discover life’s true meaning only when they see their connection to other when they see their connection to other people and learn to love them. Casy’s belief people and learn to love them. Casy’s belief is expressed in the growing sense of unity is expressed in the growing sense of unity among the migrants and other dispossed among the migrants and other dispossed people.people.

AGARIANISMAGARIANISMThe novel reaffirms Thomas Jefferson’s The novel reaffirms Thomas Jefferson’s belief that “those who labor in the earth belief that “those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God.” are the chosen people of God.” Steinbeck emphasizes the importance Steinbeck emphasizes the importance of a unified, sharing attitude between of a unified, sharing attitude between humans and the earth. Tractors, land humans and the earth. Tractors, land corporations, and bankers reflect the corporations, and bankers reflect the alienation and corruption that result alienation and corruption that result when landownership and farming when landownership and farming become a business. Migrants believed become a business. Migrants believed that the land belongs to those who that the land belongs to those who work it; landowners allowed their lands work it; landowners allowed their lands to lie dormant while other were hungry.to lie dormant while other were hungry.

COMMUNISMCOMMUNISM Throughout the novel, migrants are Throughout the novel, migrants are wrongly accused of being “Reds,” or wrongly accused of being “Reds,” or Communists. There is no direct Communists. There is no direct evidence in the novel that a larger evidence in the novel that a larger political influence lies behind the political influence lies behind the migrants’ attempts to organize and migrants’ attempts to organize and protect themselves. Their ideal is NOT protect themselves. Their ideal is NOT communism, but a communalism or a communism, but a communalism or a vague form of Christian socialism vague form of Christian socialism where people work together for the where people work together for the benefit of all. benefit of all.

ISOLATION & LONELINESSISOLATION & LONELINESSHaving been isolated in prison, Tom Having been isolated in prison, Tom continues through most of the novel as a continues through most of the novel as a “loner.”“loner.”Casy feels that his life as a preacher has Casy feels that his life as a preacher has isolated him from the real meaning of life.isolated him from the real meaning of life.Muley Graves is “just wanderin’ around Muley Graves is “just wanderin’ around like a. . .graveyard ghost.”like a. . .graveyard ghost.”Uncle John is described as “the loneliest. Uncle John is described as “the loneliest. . .man in the world.”. .man in the world.”Steinbeck uses the backdrop of the Steinbeck uses the backdrop of the larger isolation of the migrants as a larger isolation of the migrants as a whole.whole.

PUTTING THE PIECES PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHERTOGETHER

Animals and machines are an important Animals and machines are an important part of the novel both at a literal and a part of the novel both at a literal and a symbolic level. They unify the novel, symbolic level. They unify the novel, help us understand characters, and help us understand characters, and point out major themes in the work.point out major themes in the work.Animals and characters: The people Animals and characters: The people are reduced to animal level by the are reduced to animal level by the banks and owners; the people are close banks and owners; the people are close to nature, one with the land they to nature, one with the land they farmed.farmed.

PUTTING THE PIECES PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHERTOGETHER

In the novel, it is not MACHINES that In the novel, it is not MACHINES that are evil, but the system that allows only are evil, but the system that allows only the wealthy to own the tractors.the wealthy to own the tractors.The truck continues to break down and The truck continues to break down and is eventually stopped, as it the Joads.is eventually stopped, as it the Joads.Life would have been easier if farmers Life would have been easier if farmers had access to tractors. The problem had access to tractors. The problem was that they had no money and could was that they had no money and could not compete with farmers who did own not compete with farmers who did own machines.machines.

The Controversial EndingThe Controversial EndingRose of Sharon, who so often in the Rose of Sharon, who so often in the early chapters is a whining, selfish, early chapters is a whining, selfish, immature girl, grows into a woman like immature girl, grows into a woman like her mother, who cares for others first, her mother, who cares for others first, no matter the cost.no matter the cost.Steinbeck’s purpose was to have the Steinbeck’s purpose was to have the readers see that even when the Joads readers see that even when the Joads had nothing, life and suffering had had nothing, life and suffering had taught them to share what little they taught them to share what little they had: in this case, Rose of Sharon’s had: in this case, Rose of Sharon’s breast milk.breast milk.