Communism In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath
John Steinbeck was a brilliant yet controversial writer whom was genuinely curious in the hope of an improved form of government and society. He was believed to be a communist at a time when many American citizens were still fearful of a communist takeover. His novel Grapes of Wrath is a superb example of literature written through the eyes of a Marxist characterized by a focus on disproportionate economic power, materialism versus spirituality, and the class conflict experienced by those suffering throughout the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. The entirety of Grapes of Wrath is acutely concentrated on the aspect of economic disparity and its resulting effects. Everyone in the story is substantially affected by this difference and it is shown …show more content…
There is a combination of these two forces, where there is an understanding and care for one another, but a fear of what others will do for themselves and a resulting goal of wealth. As is the case with Al and Mae. Al yells at Mae for giving a traveler a hard time and says “Goddamn it, Mae. Give ‘em the loaf.” (205) thus giving off the appearance of generosity before revealing that he gets his money back by ensuring he always wins the jackpot off the slot machine. This is not necessarily not caring but he understands that only the wealthy will play machine and therefore is not stealing any possible wealth from the poor. Contrarily Mae is visibly distrustful of the travelers but instinctively wants to care for them. She hounds the guy but when she sees his boys it’s different. “They went immediately to the candy case and stared in-not with craving or with hope or even with desire, but just with a kind of wonder that such things could be.” (205) She sees what these boys are missing out on and goes out of her way to charge almost nothing for the candy. Generosity is a tricky ideal to carry out when the world is full of selfish crooks. It is invaluably important for people to have the desire to help everyone around them. But to go along with that desire everyone needs to have an understanding of how and when they are truly helping or just allowing
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1156 Words | 5 PagesIs it out of compassion or fear? “Pity? Care? Compassion? Or does she want to rid her shop of troublesome presence, If explusion were her motivation she would not reward his arrival with gifts of food.” Evidently, having compassion and empathy isn’t easy, but there are people who learned to have that from theri daily lives and compassion grows within their heart over time.
Symbolism In A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
729 Words | 3 PagesIt is also shown when Francie is able to “throw [the coffee] away rather than to drink it”(14). The mirage of wealth in both of these cases helps the Nolan family to remain steadfast in their daily life and in pursuit of a better one even if their situation is the complete opposite than what they
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Literary Analysis: The Grapes Of Wrath
1880 Words | 8 PagesIn Chapter 15 the description of the rich diner guests includes that “ In their lapels the insignia of lodges and service clubs, places where they can go and, by a weight of numbers of little worried men, reassure themselves that business is noble and not the curious ritualized thievery they know it is;that they are kind and charitable in spite of the principles of sound business; that their lives are rich instead of the thin tiresome routines they know; and that a time is coming when they will not be afraid any more.” (155)This quote shows how those wealthy people choose to believe that they are not doing harm to those less fortunate in an attempt to soothe their rampant anxiousness. The rich people in this novel are repeatedly using their power in order to ensure their own financial/social security and through this they are beating down the migrant people. This is shown near the beginning of the novel as the migrant families are forced off their land.
Barbara Ascher's Essay 'On Compassion'
642 Words | 3 Pages“Was it fear or compassion that motivated the gift?”(Pg. 47) Ascher wonders why the mother gave the homeless man a dollar even if he did not ask for it. She also wonders why the French waitress gave the homeless man a coffee and a paper bag of food. “…Twice I have wondered, what compels this woman to feed this man?
Barbara Lazear Ascher Rhetorical Analysis
487 Words | 2 PagesHowever, the manager sometimes gives him food because she feels sorry for the man. I believe is the sympathetic consciousness in ourselves that makes us do good deeds in our
Barbara Lazear Ascher's 'On Compassion'
820 Words | 4 PagesIn one circumstance, we may feel the need to give to those who are poor to keep them from getting in our personal space; and in other circumstances we feel that we give to others out of the kindness of our heart. I completely agree with Ascher and her views on compassion, because I have been in similar situation where I have questioned why people give money, and whether they give with a whole heart or out of necessity. Furthermore, this essay can teach us plenty of lessons that can be utilized throughout our lives so we can teach others and make them aware of the need to be more
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The Role Of Oppression In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath
168 Words | 1 PagesIn The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck follows the Joad family as they suffer the hardships caused by the Dust Bowl in the 1930’s. The most important lesson people can learn from the novel is the value of a human life. Although the 1930’s was a low point in American society, the ill-treatment of human beings is still relevant today. Just like Jim Casy’s philosophy, it is important to fight for the rights of the people and their dignity. There are several examples of oppression in The Grapes of wrath.
The Grapes Of Wrath Rhetorical Analysis
1576 Words | 7 PagesShe began to feel pity towards the man, and when he asked her for the price of the candy at the counter, Mae responded, “Oh--them. Well, no--them’s two for a penny” (Steinbeck 160). Mae knew the price of the candy was more than the man could afford, but she truly she wanted to help the man and his sons. Her actions symbolize how it is in the nature of humans to be kind and help each other in times of need, and helps create the compassionate tone throughout Steinbeck’s novel. However, Steinbeck included other situations, besides Mae’s magnanimity in the diner, in which other character’s actions also portray
Ending In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath
953 Words | 4 PagesSince the book came out in 1939, everyone has had a opinion on the ending to John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. It has a very controversial ending, that Steinbeck thought would name the last nail into the coffin, so to speak, on how bad the dust bowl and moving west really was. The ending starts when the Joad family is threatened with a flood, so they make their way to a old barn where they find a boy and his old father. The boy says his father is starving, and that he can’t keep anything solid down. He needs something like soup or milk.
The Grapes Of Wrath Chapter 11 Analysis
294 Words | 2 PagesThe tone of chapter 11 in John Steinbeck's, “The Grapes of Wrath,” is sympathetic, sad and hopeless. His word choice and syntax show how the sad houses were left to decay in the weather. His use of descriptive words paints a picture in the reader's mind. As each paragraph unfolds, new details come to life and adds to the imagery. While it may seem unimportant, this intercalary chapter shows how the effects of the great depression affected common households.
Grapes Of Wrath Rhetorical Analysis Essay
1177 Words | 5 PagesJohn Steinbeck has a style of writing unparalleled in history and in the modern world. In the same way, his philosophies are also unparalleled, with his focus in socialism not extending to communism or abnegation of spiritualism. His ideal world is utopian, holding the dust bowl migrant at the same level as the yeoman farmer was held in Jeffersonian times. In The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck Steinbeck, who posses impregnable technique, conveys his message of a group working tirelessly for the betterment of the community.
Comparing The Rich Brother And Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin
564 Words | 3 PagesThe short story, “The Rich Brother” accounts the journey of two brothers with great different personalities. After Donald, the younger naive religious brother, is kicked out of a communal farm, Pete, the older wealthier brother, goes to pick him up. Pete feels that Donald is too carefree, and that he always has to help him out of his mistakes. The tensions between these siblings are evident--they both feel that they need to prove themselves to each other; they need to provide evidence of their “prosperity” (Wolff 324). Pete more than Donald tends to always try to impress others, such as buying expressive items.
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