In this day and age, we face many problems. These problems include racism, poverty, and sexism. John Steinbeck, in The Grapes of Wrath, approaches the issue of sexism, writing about multiple empowered women. The novel is about the Joad family making the treacherous journey from Oklahoma to California in search of a better life. On the way to, and on arrival at California, there are three examples of women that are leaders and helpers. Steinbeck uses these three women to show that women are equal to men. These women are Ma Joad, the women in the ladies committee, and Rosasharn. It’s clear to see that Ma Joad is an incredibly strong character. She was an obedient wife, and always thought of the good of the family before her own personal gain. Her true strength can be seen when she challenges Pa’s judgement. In efforts to keep the Joads together, she says, “I ain’t a-gonna go” (168). She defies Pa’s command, and makes a stand to keep the family together. From then on, it’s clear. She had taken the power from the “alpha male”, and was the leader of the family. This experience shows Ma’s great leadership qualities, but most importantly her transition from wife to matriarch; less important to more important. Joshua 2 …show more content…
Their strength can clearly be seen in the way they handle a mother stealing toilet paper for her sick children. Jessie Bullitt, elected leader of the ladies committee, sternly but wisely ends the conflict. She says, “Mis’ Joyce, you knowed that, How come you let your girls get hungry?” (316). They calmly rebuke the lady, without starting any trouble. The ladies committee fixes the situation quickly, and has no trouble in doing so. This ladies committee is shown as responsible, efficient, and capable to show that the committee performs with no problems, and just as well as the men’s
“She seemed to know, to accept, to welcome her position, the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken.” (p. 74)
A clear concept in John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath was the way families were run. At the beginning of the twentieth century, men led the family. They made the decisions and they made the money for the family while the women worked behind the scenes and kept everything going. What the men did not realize, or did not want to recognize, was that the women were the ones who were really in control. Though they did not take credit for it, they were the ones who bought and cooked the food the men ate, bore and reared the children the men helped create, and did everything they could to make a better life for themselves and their families. This changed once the Dust Bowl struck. Soon after, women took charge of the family affairs and slid
Steinbeck exploits a disturbing and melancholy tone in The Grapes of Wrath in order to describe the desolation and destitution of California, once the Joad family arrives. A majority of the novel supports Steinbeck’s disturbing tone, especially with the novel set during the Great Depression; moreover, the setting of the novel proves parallel with Steinbeck’s disturbing tone. Many families traveled to California in attempts to begin a better life; however, many of the migrants discovered that California’s lifestyle did not meet any of the expectation many of the families had. The poverty, low wages, and unemployment that the Okies faced in California proved disappointing, and Steinbeck continually illustrates the struggles the Okies face to
In the year of 1939, the Great Depression affected the lives of many located within the United States. This was a severe, and most widespread depression which affected people across the world. For the reason that there was a fall of the stock market, a drought ravaged the agricultural heartland. Those who were dependent on their farmland to provide for their families became imposed by coercion to retreat and re-locate their entire families. This migration was a struggle during this period because the lack of resources and money to survive. Among other elements, starvation and homelessness caused many to die at an early age. John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath, exhibits the Joad's, a family who undergoes the collapse of the agrarian
In perhaps his greatest work, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck tells a story of Tom Joad and his family, who are forced to abandon their farm during the depression era Oklahoma dust bowl. They decide to travel to California along with many other in search for jobs and homes, and look for a great future. In the time considered, The Grapes of Wrath, gives a shockingly real view on the struggles citizens at the time faced. In the tragic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck uses Christian symbolism effectively in order to shape and reinforce the theme of the dignity of wrath. Steinbeck convey’s this through the use of Jim Casy, Tom Joad and Rose of Sharon.
The Grapes Of Wrath introduces many real life topics, and difficulties relevant to the people in the 1930s and some still relevant to today. Throughout the book topics like migration, corporate profit, and even environmental impacts of human choices are all present in the book. Steinbeck is shown to makes many claims about each of these topics, but the topic that stands out the most are the issues with the criminal justice system. Steinbeck believes that the police and the criminal justice system are corrupt and generally police have a tendency to abuse their authority against poor people and migrants.
In Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath, he describes the struggle of the small farmer and farmworker. The principal characters define quiet dignity and courage in their struggle to survive and in the caring for their loved ones. Through this novel, Steinbeck displays his respect for all the poor and oppressed of our world.
Critical Essays on Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Ed. John Ditsky, G.K. Hall. 1989, 97-10
The novel The Grapes of Wrath is in many ways a one-of-a-kind piece of literature. This work is set up unlike any other book, written in a series of chapters and inter-chapters, which do a remarkable job of informing the reader of the travels the characters in the book are going through. Not only does the story focus on the problems one family goes through, but explains the problem is happening to many more civilians than the story focus's on. Steinbeck does not leave out a single detail about the Joad family and their journey to California, and that in itself is what makes his writing so entertaining. Not only is this a very powerful topic to write about, but the remarkable writing style of author John Steinbeck makes this book a
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck uses numerous literary techniques to advocate for change in the social and political attitudes of the Dust Bowl era. Simile, personification, and imagery are among the many devices that add to the novel’s ability to influence the audience’s views. Moreover, through his use of detail, Steinbeck is able to develop a strong bond between the reader and the Joad clan. This bond that is created evokes empathy from the audience towards the Joads as they face numerous challenges along their journey. The chapters go between the Joad’s story and a broad perspective of the Dust Bowl’s effect on the lives of Mid-western farmers in which Steinbeck illustrates dust storms devastating the land, banks evicting tenant
The novel, The Grapes of Wrath, is a story that construes the journey of the Joad family through the brutal migration from Oklahoma 's destroying Dust Bowl to California corrupt promised land. Through the depiction of events and portrayal of characters, the bible takes part in the novel as one whole allusion. The anecdote of the struggle for survival in the fallen state of Oklahoma and in the “promised land” of California, reveals the same ideas shown as we explore in the bible. In The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck integrates the allegory of biblical references and values to create the image of a family’s journey to California during the Dust Bowl of the early 1900s.
“At the heart of every immigrant’s experience is a dream- a vision of hope that is embodied in his or her destination” (Gladstein 685). In the novel, The Grapes of Wrath the migrants imagined the absolute aspects of living care free to the west. However, everything changed once they traveled to the west, realizing the simple concept turned into hazardous problems. John Steinback emphasized the American dream of economic stability and truculent situations towards the Joads family's point of view. Throughout the immigration, the Joads family goes through constant and unpredictable changes in employment, and their eventual failure to find success in California. The novel has been called by critics "a celebration of the human spirit", in several ways it is true due to the aspects of human nature. Despite the hazardous actions people can do, it is important to realize everything around us.
Through the roughest times in life, we come across crises that reveal the true character in those around us. Those who are strong are divided from the weak and the followers divide from the leaders. In the novel, The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck presents the character Ma Joad who serves an important role as the rock that keeps the family together. The Joad family, apart from many families in Oklahoma, is forced to leave their homes in search of work and better opportunities; California not only leaves them in poverty but despair. But through it all Ma Joad is the leader of the family that exhibits selflessness in order to protect and secure her family.
In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, we are shown many social issues within the story. Social issues are displayed through homelessness, adaptation, prejudice and more. The social issues bring the novel together as one, and they have a great effect on the Okies in the book. Also, adaptation plays a big part in the social issues. Steinbeck captures great struggles in migrant work on the farm and shows how workers needed to come together as one.
Through the journey of one migrant family, the novel The Grapes of Wrath portrays the obstacles and challenges of life after the Great Depression. Following the Joad family on their quest to find work in California, the novel illustrates the difficulties the family must overcome in order to survive. Author John Steinbeck touches upon social and political attitudes during the time, such as the power of big business, making it clear that hunger and illness were not always the biggest threats to the poor farmers and workers. It is clear through Steinbeck’s writing that he wishes to modify the discriminatory social structures and the oppression faced by the poor during the time. Through literary techniques such as changes in narration and detailed depictions, John Steinbeck advocates against the idea of a prosperous few holding power over the struggling masses and the inhumanity that arises from these circumstances.