The Grapes of Wrath - Question 1

The classic novel, Grapes of Wrath, is full of remarkable values and attitudes. In the book, readers are taken on a journey of poverty and family struggles with the main character, Tom Joad, and his family. They are put through many hardships, but in the end they persevere. In one example Tom and his family are at a migrant worker’s camp. Ma, Tom’s mother, prepares a pot of stew for her and her family. She gives small bowls full of the stew to her family, while leaving a bowl for herself. Although her and her family is still hungry, she decides to give the leftover stew to hungry children in the camp (Steinbeck 249). This demonstrates the generosity and self-sacrifice the Joad’s, and countless other migrant workers of the time period, possess. Author John Steinbeck reveals that he values the idea of openheartedness through the characters in Grapes of Wrath.

I believe the author also values the idea of family. Grapes of Wrath focuses on a family’s expedition through hard times and their struggle to stick together in the midst of adversity. Ma Joad fights time and time again to keep the family’s state of mind optimistic. Throughout the novel, she tells her family to support one another and look toward the future. “Besides, us folks takes a pride in holdin’ in. My pa used to say ‘Anybody can break down. It takes a man not to,’” (Steinbeck 193). Steinbeck demonstrates through Ma Joad how no matter what difficult situation you are in, your family will always be there for you. This classic American novel is a prestigious example of what was valued around the time of the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930’s.

Grapes of Wrath is written in third person omniscient. Because of the narrator’s knowledge of each character’s emotions and individual thoughts, the novel has a more personal appeal. Readers are able to grasp an understanding of not only one character’s feelings like in that of a first person narration, but multiple characters thoughts and ideas. The third person narration definitely helped me a lot in understanding each character efficiently.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.