The Grapes of Wrath - Question 7

When I first picked up the novel Grapes of Wrath and started reading it, the first thing I thought was, “Whoa... I am definitely going to have fun with this dialogue for the next 619 pages.” Little did I know that southern, 1930’s dialect, along with descriptive detail, would be one of the reasons why I was able to grasp such a vivid understanding of the life of the Joads.

Steinbeck’s use of such vivid detail describing the setting of the novel intrigues me to such an extent, I feel as if I could paint a picture of “the red country and part of the gray country of Okalhoma” (Steinbeck 1) in my head. His technique of depicting the setting of the novel using exemplifying adjectives gives readers the feeling that they are there with the Joads, soaking up the summer sun and feeling the soft breeze hit their faces. “In the Weedpatch camp, on an evening when the long, barred clouds hung over the set sun and inflamed their edges, the Joad family lingered after their supper,” (Steinbeck 478). Steinbeck’s vibrant description of the setting also gives readers a sense of the mood. The “barred clouds” slowly engulf the sun so that it no longer shines. Ma Joad states that something needs to be done because their situation heading west is only getting worse. Because of the illustrious detail put into Grapes of Wrath, readers can connect efficiently with the setting and the characters, along with the mood of the chapter.

To add to the descriptive detail in the novel, Steinbeck allows readers to almost hear the southern accents of the characters in their head because of the language used. "You don't look for no sense when lightnin' kills a cow, or it comes up a flood. That's jus' the way things is. But when a bunch of men take an' lock you up four years, it ought to have some meaning,” (Steinbeck 74). The dialect Tom displays in this quote demonstrates the time period very well. Reading the conversations each character has with one another allows the reader feel as if they are with the Joads on their journey, merely sitting on the sidelines just observing the tête-à-tête.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.