The Grapes of Wrath - Question 8

Grapes of Wrath accurately reflects events in history to such a degree that I felt I learned an extensive amount of information regarding the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s. Steinbeck is able to portray a fictitious family (although the family did symbolize real families back then) living during a time of hardship through real events that took place on the same soil I call home. “’I’ve done my damndest to rip a reader’s nerves to rags. I don’t want him satisfied. . . I tried to write this book the way lives are being lived, not the way books are written,” (Steinbeck xiii). And that is exactly what he did. Steinbeck put the time and effort into writing his most popular novel ever, Grapes of Wrath.

The author makes it clear through his writing that he believes there is a responsibility between men (including women) to be kind and generous to one another. One startling, yet dramatic example of this is at the very end of the novel when Rose of Sharon, who just lost her baby, breastfeeds a hungry and dying man back to life. “For a minute Rose of Sharon sat still in the whispering barn. Then she hoisted her tired body up and drew the comfort about her. She moved to the corner and stood looking down at the wasted face, into the wide, frightened eyes,” (Steinbeck 618-619). This heroic act of kindness demonstrates on such a prestigious level the generosity men have for their fellow brother (in this case, the generosity women have for their fellow brother). It takes a mature person to read this scene and not laugh, but instead reflect on the novel’s significant impact on one’s self regarding kindness.

Another noteworthy affiliation Steinbeck exemplifies through Grapes of Wrath is a rather unfortunate one; that being the relationship the rich have with the poor. The wealthy landowners kick the migrant workers out of their homes as if they are nothing more than mere ants being kicked from their dirt mound. They treat them like a puppet on a string by controlling their wages (Steinbeck 384).

I believe author John Steinbeck was highly influenced by society. He was born in 1902 and “grew up in a fertile agriculture valley about twenty-five miles from the Pacific Coast,” (Steinbeck preface). By living in a time period the book revolved around, it is only likely (I only presume anyway) that he lived through the Great Depression himself and therefore was able to relate to his characters, producing one of the most influential books in history.

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