Jewel GamsbyAugust 4, 2014The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Historical and Cultural Background The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck comes with a loaded historical background. It is set in the Great Depression in the 1930s. The family that the story revolves around is from Oklahoma. The economy was in a dire state thanks to the aftermath of WWI, and farmers were in trouble from the bad weather.At this point in time, the crops of the midwest are ruined by a vicious dust storm, not helping the already plummeting economy. Lots of families were moving to California to find jobs during the time. Form and StructureThe novel starts with a changing climate that puts farmers in an impossible economic state. The main character, Tom Joad is introduced and the reader learns that he just got out of jail from committing homicide after a very awkward car ride with a truck driver. Joad eventually meets up with his family and they decide to move west, to California. Many characters die along the way and Tom ends up killing a man, again. Eventually, Tom runs away and the Joads escape a flood.The plot is basically divided into three sections. In the first part, the Joad family travels along Route 66 and makes their way to California. During the second part of the plot, the Joads reach California and discover that it is not all that it cracked up to be. In reality, there are very few jobs and it proved to be a depressing and sad place, unlike the ideal, utopian life that was promised to those of the midwest. In the last piece of the novel, the Joads survive several disasters that are thrown at them, and Tom runs away to escape going back to prison. The novel alluded to several philosophers, pop culture, and government influences. One particular allusion was to philosopher Karl Marx in chapter fourteen. A comment was made about equal distribution of land, or shared land, which is a known trait of communism. Point of ViewThis novel is written from the third person omniscient point of view. The voice of this novel is that of the people of midwest America. That being said, it is a very sad, angry, and helpless voice. The characters of this novel can do nothing about the state that theyre in and the omniscient point of view vouches for them. In other words, this novel is from the point of view of a desperate, out-of-luck family that is moving to California as a last resort to provide for themselves and their family. ThesisThe Grapes of Wrath is an ode to the tough life that Americans lived during the Great Depression. The novel does its job by conveying the agonizing years that the Joad family lived through, as well as how living in such awful circumstances changed them. The novel brought upon themes of change, family, religion, and economic standpoint. The Joad family depended on each other more than ever in the novel. Religion is also a key part of the novel. Throughout, characters sing brief songs about Jesus or speak of God. This may be due to humanitys tendency to rely on religion during tough times. Many characters changed; some grew to be more pessimistic, some became more selfish and self dependent, and some even died. Diction The great owners formed associations for protection and they met to discuss ways to intimidate, to kill, to gas. And always they were in fear of a principal - three hundred thousand- if they ever move under a leader- the end. (238.)This passage uses very harsh, violent words such as intimidate, kill, gas, fear, and the end. This indicates the rough and depressing lifestyle that people of this time lived. The harsh words have a definite effect on the tone and voice of the novel. He had never been angry in his life. He looked in wonder at angry people , wonder and uneasiness, as normal people look at the insane (78.)Again, the reader can see the jarring language used. This quote also fits into the theme of change. This character doesnt get angry, but the Great Depression was causing wear and tear on his persona. Well, the little guy says, howd your goddamn crops get picked if it wasnt for us? (334). This passage goes along with the idea that migrant workers didnt want to stand alone. They wanted to work together, in a union. Its obvious this laborer is angry and fed up with being underpaid and underappreciated for the hard, physical labor he puts in everyday, as evident through his tone and use of the word goddamn. Syntax A harmonica is easy to carry. Take it out of your hip pocket, knock it against your palm to shake out the dirt and pocket fuzz and bits of tobacco. Now its ready. You can do anything with a harmonica. (328.)This passage is one of hope, a more upbeat tone than most passages of the novel. The harmonica instills a sense of control. The structure of the sentences and light hearted language, such as fuzz, indicates that there are little bits and pieces of migrant worker life that arent all so bad. The men were silent and they did not move often. ANd the women came out of the houses to stand beside their men - to feel whether this time the men would break. The women studied the mens faces secretly, for the corn could go, as long as something else remained. (3.)At the beginning of the novel Steinbeck uses incredible imagery to convey the climate change and ruined crop season. The language is very heavy and depressing, as well as the structure of the passage. Our people are good people; our people are kind people. Pray God some day kind people wont all be poor. Pray God some day a kid can eat. (239.)This passage is another indicator of hope and fits into the theme of religion. Although it is recognized that everyone is in a tough situation, there is hope for a better future. Pray and God are bound to instill hope. This passage is also sad, as it speaks of starving children. Significance of the TitleThe title The Grapes of Wrath is taken directly out of a war song called, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The title itself indicates anger, fruitless crops, a bad economic situation, and the suffering of the low-paid, middle class workers across America. Memorable Quotations Fella gets use to a place, its hard to go, said Casy. Fella gets use to a way of thinkin its hard to leave. (51.)This quotation goes along with the theme of change seen throughout the novel. Everyone of the midwest is used to their way of life and theyre afraid to move out to California and change everything theyve ever known. Here I got the sperit sometimes an nothin to preach about. I got the call to lead people, an no place to lead em. (25).Jim Casy, a retired preacher, speaks of his connection with God and how he cant preach because he has nothing good in his life. He cant lead people because he himself has no where to go. Casys words fit into the religious theme in the novel. We cant depend on it. The bank- the monster- has to have profits all the time. It cant wait. Itll die. (11).This excerpt is a prime example of the economic despair and dysfunction within the lives of the main characters. The people have turned the bank into the enemy. And then all of a sudden, the family began to function. (114).The theme of family is one of importance in the novel. The Joad family became much more reliant on each other. With the inevitable disadvantages at hand, the Joad family came together as a team and functioned as a unit, portraying the theme of family. The Western land, nervous under the beginning change. The Western States, nervous as horses before a thunder storm. The great owners, nervous, sensing a change, knowing nothing of the nature of the change. (150.)This quote also fits into the theme of change. The states of the midwest have undergone climatic change and economic change, as did the state of California. Maybe all men got one big soul everybodys a part of. (41).Again, fitting into the religious theme, this quote demonstrates hope. Migrant workers want to believe that they are one, a team. Not that they are weak, scrawny, helpless individuals, but one big strong union of laborers. CriticismIn The Guardians more recent review of the famed novel, The Grapes of Wrath, reviewer Melvyn Bragg discusses the solemn tone and possible themes of the novel. Bragg discusses a possibility of religious themes, economic despair, and the likeliness of the novel being based off of Steinbecks own personal experience. As a reader, this review would be helpful in further understanding the economic aspects of the novel, as well as a more in depth background on Steinbeck.

Bragg, Melvyn. "John Steinback's Bitter Fruit." Rev. of The Grapes of Wrath. The Guardian 21 Nov. 2011: n. pag. Web. 12 July 2014. The New York Times published a review of The Grapes of Wrath back when the novel was first released. This review by Peter Monro Jack speaks a lot of patriotism and why the novel would get a lot of criticism despite Steinbecks iconic writing. The review discusses the lengthiness of the novel, how it has a very depressing and sad tone almost the entire time, as well as giving a short summary of the novel. This review gives a better understanding as to what people of the Great Depression were really like and how they wouldve reacted to the novel. This can give a better context for the novels background and what life was like.

Jack, Peter M. "John Steinbeck's New Novel Brims With Anger and Pity." Rev. of The Grapes of Wrath. The New York Times 16 Apr. 1939: n. pag. Web. 2 Aug. 2014.