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Grapes Of Wrath Theme Analysis

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In the novel “The Grapes of Wrath” there is an abundance of themes presented to the reader and even more symbols to go with them. However the theme that pops out of the book to the reader the most is that, even when there seems to be no possible solution to the problem ahead that if you keep pushing you will reach your destination. These acts of resisting when powerless are present throughout the whole book and all together seem to characterize the Okie community. The first symbol at the beginning of the book indicating the theme in the book is in chapter one when the Okies notice that there is no chance of rain and that a drought will result because of it. The women and children look at the men for what to do and the men look angrily as …show more content…

In chapter twelve a salesman tries to sell a bad tire to and Okie family and tries to take advantage of their vulnerable state. However the Okie family will not take it and instead risk going out on the road with the bad tire, eventually it stops leading to some assistance from by-passers. This actions that the Okie engaged in with the broken tire shows that even if in need for a tire that they will not get swindled by the wealthy because they are in need, then when the car stops they don’t panic but instead make a trailer and make things work by asking for a ride. Another example of the theme is in chapter 13 when Al asks Ma if she is scared of going to California, she answers him that she doesn’t think about it because she can’t do anything about what it will be like. This same thing happens in Chapter 16 when Al asks Tom what he thinks about moving forward. This shows that Ma and Tom admit that they are powerless in this situation but that it will not stop them from trying to make a reasonable living as we see later in the book California is not an ideal place however things seem to work themselves out after finding the government camp. In Chapter fourteen the reader can see that those in power are starting to get worried and try to stop the thousands of people who are determined to receive power. However, the thousands of people start to realize that if they a group of powerless people is more powerful than a powerful individual they start to find ways to succeed in California as well resist the implications put on them from the powerful

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