In the Great Depression era novel The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck deploys descriptive language to convey Man’s perseverance. For example in chapter 3 Steinbeck describes Man’s perseverance by using a turtle and it struggles to represent the Joad family’s struggles. One can see Man’s perseverance when narrator states, “Now the hands, braced on top of the wall, strained and lifted, and the shell came slowly up and rested its front end on the wall.” In this passage the phrases “strained and lifted” and “came slowly up” evoke the reader's sense of struggle and hardship because the turtle is slowly lifting itself with all its might over a large obstacle. This dialogue also expresses life’s will to survive regardless of the
1. “… and then suffered a mild nervous collapse. He was treated in a veteran’s hospital near Lake Placid, and was given shock treatments and released.” (Vonnegut,24) This quote has to do with Billy’s mental health because it states he had a breakdown and spent time in a hospital for treatment.
During the Great Depression there was huge separation of wealth. This is one of the key problems in The Grapes of Wrath. Many families, including the Joads, were forced into starvation, homelessness, and migration because of the economic and natural problems facing the United States. Today this problem still exists. While it does not affect citizens in such a drastic way, many families are forced to live off of a lower income and suffer while the few hold a high percentage of wealth.
Award-winning actress Meryl Streep once claimed that “[t]he great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.” In sharing this statement, Streep implies that empathy—the ability to understand and feel compassion for others—is one of the most important human traits, for it can bring people together and inspire change. John Steinbeck, author of The Grapes of Wrath and “The Harvest Gypsies,” and Upton Sinclair, author of The Jungle, both are effective in eliciting empathy as they describe the anguish and misery of the lower class, in hopes of encouraging social change. However, Upton Sinclair’s eye-opening novel The Jungle best evokes empathy as he reveals how people tend to empathize with and feel compassion for those who are suffering
Steinbeck portrays this growth in Ma to show that women could be more than what was thought of them. This novel showcased a new perspective on women's roles in the world and gave them hope for their futures. Ma’s development throughout the novel has shown how much women had to change during the time and the sacrifice they showed. In John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, traditional gender roles are not shown when Ma keeps the family together, becomes an authoritative figure in the family, and develops her character during the story. For many, many years the roles of men and women were set in stone.
In Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath, the common theme of exploitation and self preservation is displayed through the interactions between those characterized as “the monster” and the disenfranchised common people during the Great Depression. In chapter 7, the narrator is a head car salesman who is intentionally selling cars that are in bad condition and inflating the prices. The car salesman has multiple manipulative and deceptive techniques to sell these cars and he shows almost no regard for the fate of his customers. He knows that the people coming to buy cars from him are in dire need and vulnerable enough to accept whatever they can get, even if it means having to make monthly installments for a higher price, or accepting a car with a wrecked
In 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
Overcoming Oppression The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck and is a story of overcoming oppression. When the dust bowl runs the Joad family off of their land in Oklahoma they are forced to leave with what they can fit into their truck and the little bit of money they have. The book puts you in the shoes of someone taking an unwanted journey to somewhere they are not welcome. The Grapes of Wrath shows how everyone is part of a bigger community, how religious people are seen as gullible, and how socialism unifies communities. The theme of community is consistently shown all throughout their journey.
(Steinbeck 144) Ma Joad displays the similarity between her and Virgin Mary through her strength and selflessness. At the time the Joads were crossing into California, she keeps quiet about Grandmas death and rides along with her dead body the whole night. This actions suggests that Ma thinks of the family as an unit that must always stick together, her sense of honesty since she tells Grandma directly that she can’t be helped, and her own appreciation of beauty, especially seen in her remarks about burying
The 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.
Furthermore, two prominent themes Gaines implement throughout the story are self-respect and self- dignity. Because the story is in first person point of view, readers are expose to simple emotions, as James is too young to fully understand all the concepts Octavia is attempting to teach him. During the walk in the tempestuous weather James becomes hungry and cold. Entering the café specifically for colored people, James warms up by the heater and feels concern that his mother will spend money. Octavia approaches the counter to purchase food for James.
Yakira Keiser setting 1.“Five months ago we were just another family in Brooklyn. Papa sold cigars, candy, occasionally a stuffed toy made by moma. We weren't rich but we managed. And then hey saw the cartoon in the paper”. (pg.9)
Injustices, tragedies, and unfortunate circumstances have plagued humankind for all of existence. Many of these problems have arisen from the society of man, and could not be found in nature. The hatred, selfishness, prejudice, and maliciousness seen in so many injustices man created unnecessarily, as well as all the suffering it causes does not need to exist. If an individual witnesses a crime or injustice occurring, it is their responsibility to defend the weak and fight for whatever is morally right, even at the cost of themselves.
The trip to California was inspired by some flyers that Pa Joad received one day. The Joads heard that California was in need of a larger work force, they then began dreaming of an amazing land where they prospered together as a family. But once the Joads arrived in California they realised it is not as stunning and lucrative as advertised. By the time the Joads had arrived, the job market had deplete due to the rush of migration to California, therefore Pa Joad was unable to find a lucrative job to support his family. The Joad family bounced around poverty camps, known as hoovervilles, and fought to keep food on the table.
In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, the chapters alternate between two perspectives of a story. One chapter focuses on the tenants as a whole, while the other chapter focuses specifically of a family of tenants, the Joads, and their journey to California. Chapter 5 is the former and Steinbeck does an excellent job of omniscient third person point of view to describe the situation. Chapter 5’s main idea is to set the conflict and let the readers make connections between Steinbeck’s alternating chapters with foreshadowing. Steinbeck is effectual in letting readers make connections both to the world and the text itself with the use of exposition, and symbolism.