The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of WrathAn introductionAn introduction

““The Harvest Gypsies”The Harvest Gypsies”► Seven newspaper Seven newspaper

articles on migrant articles on migrant workers Steinbeck workers Steinbeck observed in 1936.observed in 1936.

► An eyewitness An eyewitness account of the account of the horrendous Dust Bowl horrendous Dust Bowl migration, a major migration, a major event in California event in California and U.S. history.and U.S. history.

““The Harvest Gypsies”The Harvest Gypsies”► Steinbeck toured the Steinbeck toured the

squatters’ camps and squatters’ camps and “Hoovervilles” of “Hoovervilles” of California.California.

► Found once strong, Found once strong, independent farmers so independent farmers so reduced in dignity, reduced in dignity, beaten in spirit, sick, beaten in spirit, sick, sullen, and defeated sullen, and defeated that they had been that they had been “cast down to a kind of “cast down to a kind of sub-humanity.”sub-humanity.”

““The Harvest Gypsies”The Harvest Gypsies”► From 1935-’38, From 1935-’38,

between 300,000 between 300,000 and 500,000 “Okies” and 500,000 “Okies” (migrant farmers (migrant farmers from Oklahoma, from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri) arrived in Missouri) arrived in California.California.

► This provides the This provides the factual foundation for factual foundation for The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath..

““The Grapes of Wrath”The Grapes of Wrath”► Traces the story of the Traces the story of the

fictional Joad family: fictional Joad family: typical farming family typical farming family forced off their land by forced off their land by drought and foreclosure drought and foreclosure during the Great during the Great Depression.Depression.

► It is a drama that is It is a drama that is “intensely human, yet “intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and majestic in its scale and moral vision…ultimately, moral vision…ultimately, stirring in its insistence stirring in its insistence on human dignity.”on human dignity.”

Pre-readingPre-reading► There are 16 “inter-chapters” in the novel (generally, the odd-There are 16 “inter-chapters” in the novel (generally, the odd-

numbered chapters, but not always).numbered chapters, but not always).► They help create a total picture by establishing the entire social They help create a total picture by establishing the entire social

conditions of which these characters are a part.conditions of which these characters are a part.► It would have been impossible to have the characters carry this It would have been impossible to have the characters carry this

entire load. These characters must be real, credible, and believable.entire load. These characters must be real, credible, and believable.► So these inter-chapters fill in the larger picture to give some So these inter-chapters fill in the larger picture to give some

historical perspective about the conditions that all of these migrants historical perspective about the conditions that all of these migrants faced, not just the Joads.faced, not just the Joads.

► For example, chapter 1 gives background on the Dust Bowl. Chapter For example, chapter 1 gives background on the Dust Bowl. Chapter 5 describes the process by which mortgaged lands are taken over by 5 describes the process by which mortgaged lands are taken over by the banks; farmers are evicted; and lands are combined into vast the banks; farmers are evicted; and lands are combined into vast holdings cultivated with modern machinery.holdings cultivated with modern machinery.

► However, everything included in the inter-chapters relates to the However, everything included in the inter-chapters relates to the events of the fictional story.events of the fictional story.

Pre-readingPre-reading► We don’t get names of new We don’t get names of new

characters in these characters in these chapters, but we get chapters, but we get “owners” and “tenants” “owners” and “tenants” doing real, dramatic things, doing real, dramatic things, rather than a rather than a straightforward lecture on straightforward lecture on how these things occurred.how these things occurred.

► These chapters also let These chapters also let Steinbeck work in his own Steinbeck work in his own statements, judgments, and statements, judgments, and denunciations of what is denunciations of what is occurring.occurring.

ThemesThemesThe bond between land and peopleThe bond between land and people

Effects of technologyEffects of technologyCasting off old waysCasting off old waysThe “human family”The “human family”

Government for the people and by the Government for the people and by the peoplepeople

EnduranceEndurance““Grapes of Wrath”: AngerGrapes of Wrath”: Anger

Ten ValuesTen Values1.1. An appreciation for our common An appreciation for our common

humanityhumanity2.2. Need to work together to achieve a Need to work together to achieve a

common goalcommon goal3.3. The need for compassion and justice for The need for compassion and justice for

the oppressedthe oppressed4.4. Importance of avoiding stereotypes and Importance of avoiding stereotypes and

labelslabels5.5. The need to share what we have with The need to share what we have with

others, especially the poorothers, especially the poor

Ten valuesTen values6. Importance of commitment to our beliefs6. Importance of commitment to our beliefs

7. A respect for our spiritual heritage7. A respect for our spiritual heritage8. The realization that change is part of the 8. The realization that change is part of the

human conditionhuman condition9. The importance of caring about the earth 9. The importance of caring about the earth

and environmentand environment10. An understanding of the role of 10. An understanding of the role of

technology in our livestechnology in our lives

PurposePurpose► This is a novel of social protest.This is a novel of social protest.►Designed to inform the public of migrant Designed to inform the public of migrant

workers’ plight.workers’ plight.► A plea for landowners of California and bankers A plea for landowners of California and bankers

in Dust Bowl states to be more tolerant.in Dust Bowl states to be more tolerant.► Shows how migrant workers were used so Shows how migrant workers were used so

bankers and California land owners could turn a bankers and California land owners could turn a profit.profit.

► Shows methods they used to cheat migrants Shows methods they used to cheat migrants and keep them from organizing.and keep them from organizing.

TitleTitle► From “The Battle From “The Battle

Hymn of the Republic”Hymn of the Republic”► ““Mine eyes have seen Mine eyes have seen

the glory of the coming the glory of the coming of the Lord; he is of the Lord; he is trampling out the trampling out the vintage where the vintage where the grapes of wrath are grapes of wrath are stored.”stored.”

► Title is a reference to Title is a reference to justice and retribution.justice and retribution.

The Dust Bowl: The Wrath of The Dust Bowl: The Wrath of NatureNature

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl► An ecological and An ecological and

human disaster in human disaster in the 1930sthe 1930s

►Hit the Great Plains: Hit the Great Plains: primarily Kansas, primarily Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, New Mexico, ColoradoColorado

The CauseThe Cause► Years of misuse of landYears of misuse of land► Sustained droughtSustained drought► Millions of acres rendered uselessMillions of acres rendered useless► Native Americans’ warning to “leave the grass Native Americans’ warning to “leave the grass

alone” ignoredalone” ignored

The FalloutThe Fallout► As land dried up, As land dried up,

great clouds of dust great clouds of dust and sand, carried by and sand, carried by wind, covered wind, covered everything: The “Dust everything: The “Dust Bowl” was born.Bowl” was born.

► In 1937 alone, 134 In 1937 alone, 134 dust storms recorded, dust storms recorded, creating “Black creating “Black Blizzards.”Blizzards.”

The human costThe human cost►Hundreds of Hundreds of

thousands of thousands of people forced to people forced to flee homes.flee homes.

►Occurred during a Occurred during a time of social and time of social and economic economic upheaval: The upheaval: The Depression.Depression.

The LegacyThe Legacy► The Dust Bowl lasted about a decade.The Dust Bowl lasted about a decade.►Much was learned about cultivation in dry-Much was learned about cultivation in dry-

land ecosystems, which helped prevent land ecosystems, which helped prevent another Dust Bowl.another Dust Bowl.