Generosity In The Grapes Of Wrath

Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin also known from her pseudonym George Sand, once said “charity degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it.” Those who give to others solely believe they are helping for the greater good. While those receiving more or less don’t reciprocate the same gratitude. It comes from human nature to believe deep down to help others less fortunate than one. Generosity spreads to those in need creates gratitudes to those who dispense. In his novel, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck explores this theme while telling the story of a poor family’s journey during the Dust Bowl. In the novel, Steinbeck uses Ma Joad to portray generosity is perceived differently through social classes (poverty?).

Ma Joad giving the children stew gives children false hope of a bright future. After making stew for the whole Joad family, Ma sees she has some leftovers in the pot. Many “strange children” crowded Ma Joad waiting for her next move. She gives the of the pot of stew to them and “went into the tent quickly so she would not see” (352). Ma Joad has a full heart and believes everyone should be accepted. She can’t stand the fact that she has extra food and others are starving on a daily. The only way to cope with the hurt she has for others is to suppress the fact that she saw the crowd of children around the pot by running back into the tent. Unexpectantly, a mother of a boy who ate the stew approaches Ma and says “Don’ you go a-boastin’ an’ a-braggin’