The Grapes of Wrath Study Guide Author Biography 2

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migration of Oklahomans to California, and the life of the What's Inside migrants in California. These explanatory chapters are called intercalary chapters because they are inserted between other parts. j Book Basics ...... 1 TENSE d In Context ...... 1 The Grapes of Wrath is told in the past tense. a Author Biography ...... 2 ABOUT THE TITLE Steinbeck chose the title for the novel from a verse in "The h Characters ...... 3 Battle Hymn of the Republic," which reads, "Mine eyes have k Plot Summary ...... 7 seen the glory of the coming of the Lord / He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored." Explaining c Chapter Summaries ...... 11 the title—which was suggested by Steinbeck's wife—in a letter to his agent, Steinbeck commented, "I like the song because it g Quotes ...... 38 is a kind of a march and this book is a kind of a march." l Symbols ...... 40 m Themes ...... 41 d In Context e Suggested Reading ...... 42

While writing The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck had many doubts about the work. At one point, he wrote that he feared the book j was "going to pieces." During this time, Steinbeck was dealing Book Basics with financial problems and the death of his brother-in-law. Steinbeck wrote in his journal, "Did ever a book get written AUTHOR under such excitement? My whole nervous system is battered. John Steinbeck I hope I'm not headed for a nervous breakdown." He worried The Grapes of Wrath would end up being just a "run-of-the-mill YEAR PUBLISHED book." Rarely has an author's fears about his work proved to 1939 be so unfounded. The novel became a best seller in the United GENRE States. Although critics hailed it as a masterpiece, The Grapes Fiction of Wrath had its share of detractors and controversy.

PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR The Grapes of Wrath is written from a third-person omniscient Critical Reception point of view, which allows the narrator to explore the thoughts and feelings of all characters. Even-numbered chapters tell the Published in 1939, The Grapes of Wrath became an instant story of the Joad family; odd-numbered chapters provide success, selling 428,000 copies within a year. Soon, background information about the drought and Dust Bowl, the The Grapes of Wrath Study Guide Author Biography 2

Hollywood came calling. The studio 20th Century Fox secured When The Grapes of Wrath debuted in 1939, the Great the rights to the film version and hired the notable American Depression had been ongoing for about 10 years. Economic director John Ford. Released in 1940, the film The Grapes of conditions had improved under the New Deal of President Wrath also became a huge critical and commercial success. Franklin Roosevelt, but these efforts had failed to lift the Steinbeck loved the movie, especially Henry Fonda's portrayal country fully out of the depression. Many people were fed up of Tom Joad. and angry. The novel therefore struck a chord with numerous readers. They could identify with the Joad family and were However, not everything was rosy for Steinbeck and his outraged by the unfair, selfish labor practices depicted in the masterwork. People in Oklahoma complained that the novel story. made the entire state appear poverty stricken. People in California did not care for its critical depiction of landowners. Steinbeck's novel helped to improve working conditions. After As a result, The Grapes of Wrath was banned by some libraries. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, In fact, a few towns had ceremonial book burnings of the novel. read the book, she organized congressional hearings to reform Steinbeck was even the victim of death threats. J. Edgar labor laws for migrant camps. The novel also inspired many Hoover, the head of the FBI, was convinced that Steinbeck was labor reform leaders, such as Cesar Chavez, who organized a a Communist and put him under constant surveillance. union for migrant farmworkers in the 1960s. In fact, one of Chavez's best-known speeches calls for a boycott of grape Steinbeck, however, was very patriotic and attempted to enlist growers in California in an effort to win more rights for grape in the armed forces during World War II. Because they pickers. Eventually, Chavez succeeded in forming the United suspected him of being a Communist, the military refused to Farm Workers in America, a labor union that seeks to improve allow him to serve. Steinbeck ended up serving as a war the working conditions and wages of migrant workers. correspondent, writing a large amount of propaganda that supported war efforts. a Author Biography The Great Depression and Born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California, John Ernst Dust Bowl Steinbeck Jr. grew up in modest circumstances. His mother, Olive Hamilton, was a former schoolteacher, and his father, John Ernst Steinbeck, worked as a manager of a flour mill. Economic and ecological disasters in the United States Early on, he learned to appreciate agriculture. Salinas Valley provided the stimulus for writing The Grapes of Wrath. In had many prosperous farms and was known as the "Salad October 1929 the U.S. stock market crashed, sending the Bowl of the Nation." country into an economic depression that lasted for more than a decade. Suddenly, millions of people were out of work and Steinbeck's family faced financial difficulties when his father facing poverty. Many U.S. citizens became dissatisfied with lost his job at the flour mill, making young Steinbeck aware of how their government handled the crisis. the difficulties faced by people who had limited means. In 1919 he entered Stanford University. He took creative writing During this period, farmers suffered through severe hardships, courses and especially enjoyed classes in history, biology, and including crop failures and the falling prices of farm products. ecology. He was a largely disinterested student who did not These difficulties included the man-made ecological disaster complete some of his classes, however, and wanted to devote resulting in what's known as the Dust Bowl. Extreme drought his time to writing. He dropped out of Stanford in 1925. and soil erosion led to horrible farming conditions throughout Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and other states. Massive dust Steinbeck achieved his first literary success with the novella storms hit these areas, carrying away tons of soil. Crops failed Tortilla Flat (1935). Soon he began to use his writing to call and thousands of people lost their farms. Many of these people attention to unfair labor practices, a theme reflected in Of Mice became migrant laborers and traveled to California and other and Men (1937). areas of the country in search of work. In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck combines his experience

with economic hardships, concern about labor issues, and four sons. Ma is a strong, sturdy woman but is also gentle. She knowledge of farming and ecology to weave a rich, searing stabilizes and unifies the family. In this way, Ma acts as the story about a migrant family searching for work in California. In center, or heart and soul, of the family. As the story develops, preparation for this novel, he researched the migrant way of Ma's role shifts from backbone of the family to family leader. life in California for about two years. As the Joads face various hardships, the family threatens to break apart. To counteract this, Ma takes the reins of the The Grapes of Wrath became a financial and critical success, family, despite her husband's protests. At times, however, she earning both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in looks to Tom for leadership. 1940. He followed this work with the novels Cannery Row (1945), The Pearl (1947), East of Eden (1952), and The Winter of Our Discontent (1961). In 1962 he was awarded the Nobel Prize Pa Joad for Literature.

Steinbeck died of heart disease on December 20, 1968, in New Pa Joad is married to Ma Joad. When the story begins, they York City. are tenant farmers in Oklahoma. He is a physically strong man who is the breadwinner of the family. Early on, Pa is seen as the leader of the family. However, as the story develops, Ma h takes on the role of family leader. Although Pa doesn't like this Characters change, he accepts it. Part of him realizes that Ma is better suited to leading the family during the difficult times they are facing. Although Pa is persistent in his efforts to aid the family, Tom Joad he realizes in a way that he has become a broken man. He becomes unsure and often second guesses himself. Tom Joad is the second oldest son of Ma and Pa Joad, tenant farmers in Oklahoma. He is a lean, tall man in his late 20s. Tom was sent to prison for stabbing and killing a man in self- Jim Casy defense. He has been let out early on parole for good behavior. Tom keeps to himself. He is an outsider who chafes against Jim Casy is a former preacher. He baptized Tom Joad when authority figures who try to push him around. Even so,, he is Tom was a boy, but Casy has since grown disillusioned and devoted to his family, especially his mother. Early in the novel, quit preaching. Casy has a long head with a high forehead and Tom is seen as a man who is not contemplative. Instead, he a stringy, muscular neck. He meets Tom as the younger man would rather focus on daily tasks. Casy, a preacher, often walks toward his home in Oklahoma. Casy is a man who annoys Tom with his constant reflection about why life's constantly questions why things are the way they are. He is occurrences happen the way they do. Tom also gets angry concerned with the plight of the tenant farmers who are being when pushed around, at times resulting in violent actions. This forced off their land and realizes his new calling is to help instinct can get him in trouble. After Casy dies, Tom comes to these farmers. Thus, he travels with the Joads to California. In understand what his friend was talking about. As the story California, Casy gets arrested and comes to a deeper develops, Tom's leadership skills emerge. Tom realizes that understanding while in prison. He realizes that if people join people are part of one soul. Also, he sees that people can together, they can fight against oppression and overcome it. better fight oppression when they join together. Tom becomes When he is released from jail, he leads a strike against the a man who channels his outrage for the greater good of unfair labor practices of landowners. After Casy is killed, his humankind. ideas inspire Tom Joad.

Ma Joad Rose of Sharon

Ma Joad is married to Pa Joad. At the start of the novel, they Rose of Sharon is the older daughter of Ma and Pa Joad. Her are tenant farmers in Oklahoma. She has two daughters and name is a biblical reference to the following verse in Song of

Solomon 2:1: "I am the Rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys." She is married to Connie and is pregnant with his child. At first, Rose of Sharon is seen as an immature young woman. She has romantic notions of what her married life will be like. Her husband encourages these notions. However, when Connie abandons Rose of Sharon, she has a rude awakening. At the end of the story, Rose of Sharon shows considerable maturity by offering to breastfeed a starving man.

Al Joad

Al Joad is the third son of Pa and Ma Joad. He is a cocky 16- year-old boy who thinks mostly about women and automobiles. Even so, he also feels a responsibility for helping the family. Al looks up to his brother Tom. Throughout the story, Al shows the desire to become an independent man. He talks about going off on his own and getting a job as a mechanic. By the end of the novel, Al does break from the family when he gets engaged to a young woman named Aggie.

Uncle John

Uncle John is Pa's brother. He is a man racked by guilt over his wife's death. Much of his life is devoted to performing penance for his sin. For example, he leaves chewing gum under pillows for children and cuts wood for no pay. Uncle John has severe mood swings. As he lives his repentant lifestyle, carnal pressures swell up inside of him until they burst, at which point he goes on drinking sprees and sleeps with prostitutes. Throughout the novel, Uncle John has little character development. However, at the end of the novel, he shows a willingness to look past his complexes by agreeing to bury the dead infant.

Character Map

Niece/Uncle

Jim Casy Former preacher; traveling friend of Joad family; people advocate

Rose of Sharon Uncle John Friends Tom's pregnant sister; Tom's uncle; Pa's brother eldest Joad daughter

Nephew/ Brother/ Uncle Tom Joad Sister Second son of Ma and Daughter/ Brothers Pa Joad; wants to help Mother common people Son/ Mother

Son/Father

Pa Joad Ma Joad Tom's father; Brothers Tom's mother; Ma's husband married to Pa Son/ Son/ Father Mother

Al Joad Teenage brother of Tom; responsible for truck Brother/Sister maintenance

Daughter/Father

Main Character

Other Major Character

Minor Character

Full Character List Floyd Knowles is a migrant worker Floyd Knowles who enlightens Tom about the unfair labor practices in California. Character Description Ivy Wilson and his wife, Sairy, travel Ivy Wilson with the Joads to California. Tom Joad is the second son of Ma Tom Joad and Pa Joad. He becomes inspired to help common people. Sairy Wilson and her husband, Ivy, Sairy Wilson travel with the Joads to California. Ma is the wife of Pa Joad and the Ma Joad mother of Tom Joad. She becomes Muley Graves is a neighbor of the the leader of the Joad family. Joads in Oklahoma. He refuses to Muley Graves leave Oklahoma even though his family has left. Pa Joad Pa is the husband of Ma Joad.

Ella Summers is a member of the Jim Casy is a friend of Tom Joad. He Ella Summers Ladies Committee at the government Jim Casy eventually inspires Tom to help camp. people.

Jesse Bullitt is the chair of the Ladies Rose of Sharon is the daughter of Ma Jessie Bullitt Rose of Sharon Committee at the government camp. and Pa Joad.

Jule Vitela is a worker at the Al Joad is the son of Ma and Pa Joad. Jule Vitela government camp. Al Joad He maintains the truck and eventually breaks free of his family. Lisbeth Sandry is a religious fanatic Lisbeth Sandry who scares Rose of Sharon. Uncle John Uncle John is the brother of Pa Joad.

Mrs. Wainwright is the mother of a Connie Rivers is the husband of Rose Connie Rivers Mrs. Wainwright family that shares a boxcar with the of Sharon, whom he abandons. Joads in California.

Grampa Joad is Tom's grandfather. Grampa Joad Timothy Wallace is a man at the He dies soon after leaving Oklahoma. Timothy government camp who offers work to Wallace Tom. Granma Joad is Tom's grandmother. Granma Joad She dies while traveling with her Wilkie Wallace is a young man at the family across the desert. Wilkie Wallace government camp. He offers work to Tom. Noah Joad is the son of Ma and Pa Noah Joad Joad. He leaves the family when they Willie Eaton is a worker at the arrive in California. Willie Eaton government camp. He helps prevent a riot. Ruthie Joad is the younger daughter Ruthie Joad of Pa and Ma Joad. Aggie is the young woman who Aggie becomes engaged to Al Joad. Windfield Joad is the youngest son of Winfield Joad Ma and Pa Joad. Camp The camp proprietor tells Tom he is a proprietor troublemaker.

members of the Joad family: Ma and Pa, Tom's parents; Noah The car salesmen take advantage of Car salesmen the tenant farmers. and Al, Tom's brothers; and Grampa and Granma, Tom's grandparents.

The cook is the person who Tom learns that many tenant farmers in Oklahoma are selling Cook encourages the waitress to sell food to a migrant family for a low price. their belongings and traveling west to California, where there is rumored to be plenty of work. His family tells him that they are The one-eyed man is a self-pitying preparing to join this migration. Soon, several more family One-eyed man man stuck in a low-paying job. members arrive to greet Tom: Uncle John; Tom's younger sister, Ruthie; his younger brother, Winfield; his older sister, The raggedy man tells the Joads how Rose of Sharon; and her husband, Connie. Rose of Sharon is Raggedy man bad life in California is for the migrant pregnant. Casy asks if he can come with the Joads to workers. California. The Joads welcome him, and they all load the truck. The Joads find it difficult to leave but feel that they must. The truck driver is the man who gives Truck driver Tom a lift. The Joads join numerous other migrants who are traveling down Highway 66 to California. At one point, the Joads stop The tractor driver is a selfish man Tractor driver their truck and meet a couple named Ivy and Sairy Wilson, who concerned only with his own needs. are repairing a car. Grampa is very sick and soon dies. The Wilsons help to bury him. The Joads and Wilsons decide to The waitress is the person who sells Waitress food to a migrant family for a low travel together to California. At an eatery on Highway 66, a price. waitress and cook show empathy for a migrant family, selling them food for a low price. The watchman works at the Watchman Weedpatch camp. The Wilsons' car breaks down. Tom suggests a plan to fix the car, but it requires that the Joad family separate. Ma forcefully resists this plan, thereby taking a leadership role in the family. Tom implements a different plan to fix the car that keeps the k Plot Summary family together.

The Joads and Wilsons arrive in California and are met with The Grapes of Wrath takes place during the late 1930s and hostility from a policeman. Noah decides to stay by a river, follows the journey of the Joad family as they travel from leaving the family no choice but to go on without him. Sairy Oklahoma through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Wilson gets sick, causing the Wilsons to also stay behind. Ma California. The novel opens in Oklahoma, where farmers like worries about the family breaking up. Tom takes charge of the the Joad family are facing severe conditions. The land is preparations for the trip across the desert. As the Joads cross gradually eroding, leading to fierce dust storms. Tom Joad, the the desert, Granma dies. novel's protagonist, has just been released from prison. As he walks toward his house, he meets a former preacher named The Joads bury Granma. At this point, they realize they are Jim Casy. Casy likes to talk about ideas, which amuses and among thousands of migrants flocking to California in search annoys Tom. of work and housing, only to find that both are scarce. They soon arrive at a "Hooverville," a makeshift migrant camp, and Tom and Casy reach Tom's home only to find it abandoned. are stunned by the squalor there. Not expecting such Tom learns that while he was away in prison, big landowners hardships, Connie abandons the Joad family, including his wife. began driving tenant farmers from their land because of It is now clear to the family that the number of migrant workers disappointing crop yields. Muley Graves, an old neighbor, tells in California far exceeds the number of available jobs. Tom Tom that the other members of the Joad family were pushed also realizes that the local landowners are glad for this, as it off their land and are now staying at Uncle John's place. Tom allows them to keep wages low and prices high. A contractor and Casy arrive at Uncle John's farm and greet the core tries to hire workers from the camp without stating the pay.

Angry about this, the workers, including Tom and Casey, attack the contractor. Casy takes the rap. Tom leaves the Hooverville with his family. As they depart, they see a mob raid the camp.

The Joads arrive at a government camp, where the migrants are allowed to govern themselves. Police are not allowed in the camp without a warrant. The Joads find the camp is well maintained. At a dance, however, men hired by the police start a fight with the migrants so that the police will have a reason to raid the camp. Tom and other migrant workers use nonviolent means keep the peace.

To keep prices high, the big landowners destroy some of their crops instead of letting hungry migrants eat them. This waste and cruelty causes a "crop" to develop in the souls of the migrants—the grapes of wrath. Ma tells the Joad men they have to leave the government camp to find work.

The Joads get work picking peaches at a ranch. A day's wage is barely enough to buy dinner. Tom sneaks out of the ranch and meets with people who are picketing the ranch. He finds that Casy is leading them. Casy tells Tom about the importance of all people working together to fight oppression. The police raid the protesters' camp, and Casy is killed. Tom kills the policeman who killed Casy and is injured himself. He sneaks back into the Joads' shack in the ranch. A posse starts to search for Tom. Ma decides that the family has to leave the ranch, hiding Tom in the back of the truck.

The Joads get work picking cotton, and Tom hides out in the willows to allow his injuries to heal. Ruthie tells some kids about Tom killing two men and hiding out. Ma brings food to Tom and tells him he has to leave. While hiding, Tom has realized the meaning of Casy's ideas. He realizes that people working together to fight oppression are stronger. Tom says good-bye to Ma. A rainstorm hits the cotton farm, including the nearby camp where the Joads are living. Rose of Sharon gives birth to a stillborn infant. The camp floods, forcing the Joads to evacuate. They go to a barn for shelter and meet a boy and his starving father. Rose of Sharon breastfeeds the starving man, thereby symbolically forming a community that extends beyond family. By helping each other in dire circumstances, people find a way to survive.

Plot Diagram

Climax

10 Falling Action Rising Action 7

6 11 5

4 12

3 Resolution

Introduction

Introduction Climax

1. Tom Joad hitchhikes home and meets Jim Casy. 9. Casy is killed in strike; Tom kills police officer.

Rising Action Falling Action

2. Joads are forced off land; head for California. 10. Tom is inspired by Casy's ideas and leaves family.

3. Ma takes leadership role of family. 11. Rose of Sharon delivers stillborn; Joads leave camp.

4. At Hooverville, Joads see bad migrant conditions.

5. Tom and Casy fight police; Casy gets arrested. Resolution

6. Joads stay at Weedpatch camp, but can't find work. 12. Rose of Sharon breastfeeds starving man. 7. At ranch, Joads unknowingly bust strikers.

8. At ranch, Joads barely earn enough to buy food.

Timeline of Events

Summer day

Tom Joad and Jim Casy arrive at Uncle John's house Next day

The Joads and Casy leave Oklahoma for California. Later same day

Grampa dies. Some time later

Tom and Casy assault deputy to defend other migrants; Casy takes blame, is arrested. A few days later

The Joads reach Weedpatch camp in California and begin to look for work. A month later

The Joads leave Weedpatch and find work at ranch. Casy is killed. Tom kills officer. Two days later

The Joads leave ranch to work at a cotton farm. Tom hides out. Weeks later

The Joads pick cotton. Tom leaves the family. Days later

Rainstorm floods the camp. Rose of Sharon gives birth to stillborn. The Joads leave camp.

overview of the Dust Bowl and the migration of thousands of c Chapter Summaries people to California. The chapters that use this approach, called intercalary chapters, are usually fairly short and focus on the people as a whole instead of on a particular family or Chapter 1 person. Interspersed with these intercalary chapters are longer narrative chapters focused on the Joad family, their response Summary to the Dust Bowl crisis, and their way of dealing with hardships as they migrate to California. By alternating intercalary In this chapter, the narrator describes the erosion of the land chapters with narrative chapters, Steinbeck places the Joad that led to the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma. This process begins family within the larger context of an exodus of people with gentle rains on the "red country and part of the gray migrating to California. country." The rain fails to penetrate the land; as a result, the corn grows quickly, and grass and weed colonies spread Steinbeck shows his knowledge of farming and ecology in across the country. Chapter 1. In this chapter, he describes the erosion that causes the Dust Bowl and the effects of this disaster on farmers in Then rain does not fall for a period, causing the surface of the Oklahoma. Steinbeck makes a strong connection between the earth to crust. The constant "sharp sun" wilts the young corn land and the farm families who work the land. This connection and weeds. Soon the dirt crust breaks, causing dust to form. is emphasized throughout the novel. For these farmers, the As a result, anything that moves, such as a man walking or a land is the way they sustain life. The dust storm obliterates this wagon rolling, lifts dust into the air. During mid-June, rain way of life, leaving the men stunned. As they look at their clouds move in but release just a spattering of precipitation. ruined corn, "The men [are] silent and [do] not move often." After this, a windstorm develops that blows so much dust into the air that it darkens the sky. Through the dusty air, the "sun Near the end of this chapter, Steinbeck introduces one of the [shines] redly." The wind increases even more, uprooting corn. major themes of the novel, namely the danger of meekness "The dawn [comes], but no day," because the dust hangs in the and the benefits of anger. At first, the women are worried that air like fog. their husbands will meekly accept their fate and, as a result, be broken by the disaster. However, when they sense their Because of the windstorm, men and women tie handkerchiefs husbands' anger, they know their families will be all right. over their noses and wear goggles. They shut their houses tight and wedge cloth around doors and windows to prevent the dust from entering. Even so, dust penetrates their homes, Chapter 2 coating furniture and clothing. The wind eventually stops, but it takes an entire day for the dust to settle. The dust blankets the earth and everything on it. Men stare silently at their ruined Summary crops. Women worry that their men will break under the pressure. Children draw "figures in the dust with bare toes." In Chapter 2, Steinbeck introduces the main character. Tom The men become angry. The women continue their housework, Joad walks to a roadside restaurant and notices a "No Riders" and the men think about what to do. sticker on a parked truck. He sits on the running board of the truck, apparently waiting for the driver to come out of the Analysis restaurant. He is "not over thirty," has dark brown eyes, and high cheekbones. His hands are hard from calluses, suggesting that he has done manual labor. Curiously, he wears new In Chapter 1, Steinbeck uses a poetic narrative style, which clothes that fit poorly. employs figurative language to establish the novel's tone and convey important insights about the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck uses The truck driver pays his bill and comes out. He is surprised to this style in the novel's odd-numbered chapters to present an see the waiting man and asks if he saw the "No Riders" sticker.

Tom says he did but asks if the driver can make an exception. business as a way to get ahead without much regard for the The driver agrees and tells him to crouch on the running board harm they might cause to other people. This selfish attitude until the truck has pulled away from the restaurant. Tom does proves to have severe consequences for many people outside so, then gets in the truck and sits next to the driver. the business system.

The driver is curious about the hitchhiker and begins to ask him Steinbeck reinforces a theme by showing Tom's anger at the a series of questions. The hitchhiker gets annoyed in a friendly driver about his indirect cross-examination. Tom is honest and way at the driver's nosiness and offers to tell him anything he direct and does not like the driver's sneaky questions. wants to know. He tells the driver that his name is Tom Joad. Steinbeck again shows anger in a positive light, connecting to The driver gets defensive. Tom removes a whisky bottle from the affirming display of anger by farmers in the first chapter. At his pocket, takes a slug, and offers some to the driver, who the end of Chapter 2, Tom satisfied the driver's curiosity by declines. The driver brags about how observant he is, such as revealing that he just came out of prison and was convicted for noticing people's clothes, and Tom gets angry about the homicide. The revelation puts an exclamation point on Tom's driver's indirect way of trying to pump him for information. being an outsider who has trouble fitting in with society. Irritated with the truck driver's invasive questioning, Tom tells the driver that he just came out of McAlester Prison. The driver lets Tom off at his stop. After Tom gets out, he satisfies the Chapter 3 driver's curiosity, telling him he was jailed for homicide. The stunned truck driver pulls his vehicle away from Tom, who walks down a dirt road. Summary

Chapter 3 begins by describing how seeds are waiting in dry Analysis land to be attached to something moving, such as a man's trouser cuff, and be transported to another place. Then the Steinbeck portrays Tom Joad as an outsider who doesn't fit author depicts various forms of insects, including ants, comfortably into society. His clothes look odd, and he has a grasshoppers, and sow bugs. disregard for rules. This is evident when Tom asks the truck driver for a lift, despite the sticker on his truck. He drinks After this, a land turtle moves slowly across the grass to a whiskey in the truck, even though he knows it's frowned upon. highway embankment. Details about the turtle are included, He does not hesitate to show his anger, even though doing so such as its "hard legs and yellow-nailed feet" and "fierce, makes people uncomfortable. Also, Tom is quiet, showing he humorous eyes." The author conveys the step-by-step does not feel the need to be sociable. procedure the turtle uses to climb the embankment. The turtle methodically succeeds in getting onto the highway. Now the In contrast, Steinbeck depicts the truck driver as an insider. He turtle's journey appears to be easier as it moves across the flat seems to be familiar with roadside restaurants, such as this pavement. However, a truck approaches the animal and the one, and is friendly with the waitresses. He is heavyset, driver intentionally runs it over, sending the shell flying. Time talkative, and wants to be liked by people. Also, the driver is a passes, and the turtle extends its legs and head out of the shell Company man who drives a truck for a big business. He is and turns itself upright. The turtle then crawls down the intent on working the system by taking a correspondence embankment and enters a dirt road. course in mechanical engineering. Doing this, he figures, will enable him to get a better job and let "other guys drive trucks."

Through the contrast between Tom and the driver, Steinbeck Analysis introduces a major theme and reinforces another theme In Chapter 3, Steinbeck introduces two symbols, seeds and the introduced in the first chapter. The new theme is the abuse land turtle, that are referenced in various ways later in the caused by selfishness, especially by big business. The driver is novel. The seeds, a minor symbol, are waiting to be a Company man who is concerned only with getting ahead. transported. These seeds are passive but have "appliances of Throughout the novel, the author stresses how people use big activity" that can attach to animals' fur or human clothing and

thereby be transported. The seeds represent the farmers in because he used to have sex with women after he baptized Oklahoma, who are passive because they have lived on the them, which made him feel like a hypocrite. Also, Casy figures land for generations and will continue to stay put unless there is no sin. The Holy Spirit is really the spirit of love something comes along and propels them to move. The between people, so it's more like the human spirit. Tom listens farmers have a potential for activity, which, at the present time, to Casy but doesn't understand why he thinks about things so remains hidden. much.

In this chapter, the major symbol is the land turtle. It moves Casy asks Tom why he hasn't been home for four years. Tom slowly and deliberately, one step at a time. The turtle is single- explains that he was in prison for killing a man and got out on minded and determined. It is focused on its course, and parole. Tom goes on to say that prison wasn't that bad: "You nothing else seems to matter. With a thick, defensive shell, it eat regular, an' get clean clothes, and there's places to take a can withstand any physical harm. bath." He then asks Casy to join him as he heads for his home. Casy agrees, and they walk through the dry countryside and The turtle, therefore, represents a single-minded, step-by-step smell the "burned dust ... in the air." They talk about the crop movement along a path. If violent forces strike, they will be failures. Then Tom describes characteristics about his father, endured. The journey along the path will continue. For old Tom, such as getting excited during religious meeting even Steinbeck, this focused journey applies to the Joad family and though he isn't especially religious. Also, Tom describes his other families moving to California. Throughout the novel, uncle, Uncle John, as a person with enormous appetites and characters in the Joad family discuss the need to focus on the mood shifts. Tom and Casy arrive at Tom's home to find that it present; they take one step at a time and try not to worry has been deserted. about forces beyond their control. No matter what obstacles they face, the Joads continue to plod ahead to California and try to find work because they believe they must do it this way Analysis to survive. There seems to be no other viable course of action. Steinbeck again contrasts two characters, in this case Tom Joad and Jim Casy. In the process, he develops their Chapter 4 characters and presents another major theme of the novel. He also expands the symbol of the land turtle.

Summary Tom has no reservations about disturbing the turtle marching along its determined path. Tom refers to the turtle as a "bulldozer." A bulldozer is a vehicle that plows ahead on a In Chapter 4, Steinbeck introduces a major supporting single path, no matter what gets in its way. Steinbeck develops character: the ex-preacher Jim Casy. As Tom walks down a the symbol of the bulldozer and other machines in the next dusty road, he comes upon the land turtle. He picks up the chapter. When the turtle gets a chance, it tries to escape and turtle and wraps it in his coat as a gift for his younger siblings. head back on its determined route. Tom just picks it up and Tom then heads for a willow tree and finds a man sitting in the puts it back in his coat. He is therefore a person who is willing tree's shade. Steinbeck describes the man as having a long to break up the single-minded movement represented by the head and a neck "as stringy and muscular as a celery stalk." turtle. This trait foreshadows Tom's willingness to eventually The man recognizes Tom as a boy he baptized in an irrigation break away from myopic path of the migrant workers as they ditch. Tom remembers the baptism and realizes that the man is move from place to place in search of work. a preacher named Jim Casy. They greet each other and share a drink of whiskey from Tom's bottle. Tom and Casy have differences in their personalities, but they are not the same differences as those between Tom and the Tom squats next to Casy, who notices the turtle squirming in truck driver. Tom is an outsider; the driver is an insider. Tom Tom's coat. Tom says that the turtle is a present for his little and Casy are both outsiders. Casy was a preacher but felt brother. Casy then tells Tom that he's not a preacher anymore; guilty about having sex with women after he baptized them. As though he has "the call to lead people," he feels there is "no a result, he began to think about sin and the contradiction of a place to lead 'em." He goes on to explain that he quit preaching

person being filled with the Holy Spirit and wanting to sin at the the tenants go to California. The tenant men and their families same time. Casy came to the conclusion that there is no sin. don't know what to do or where to go. The women leave the Instead, the Holy Spirit is really the love between people. This men alone "to figure and to wonder in the dust." viewpoint is very unorthodox, making Casy an outsider. Tom says, "You can't hold no church with idears like that." Although The tractors come and plow over the farms, destroying also an outsider, Tom differs from Casy because he doesn't whatever is in their path. The tractors and the men who drive like to think about such major questions. He finds Casy's them are part of the Bank and are just doing what the Bank brooding and doubts to be unimportant. Tom says, "What the demands. The tractor drivers have no connection to the land hell you want to lead 'em someplace for? Jus' lead 'em." because they do not work closely with it. "No man had touched the seed," the narrator explains, "or lusted for the growth." In this chapter, Steinbeck also introduces the major theme of Steinbeck conveys a conversation between a tenant farmer the human community. According to this concept, each person and a tractor driver. The driver justifies his actions because he does not have an individual soul separate from other people. needs the "three dollars a day" to feed his family. The tenant Instead, each individual has a soul that is part of everyone farmer says that the driver's three dollars a day is putting a else's soul. This idea relates to the "oversoul," a concept that hundred people out of work. The driver replies that he can't originated with the transcendental thinker Ralph Waldo worry about other people. The farmer says he wants to shoot Emerson. According to Emerson, the oversoul is a universal the person or people responsible for forcing him and his family spirit that unifies all living things. Steinbeck uses this idea to off their land. The driver says, "Maybe there's nobody to shoot. emphasize why people are more powerful when they unite and Maybe the thing isn't men at all." The driver continues on his form a human community in which the members care for one path, plowing down the tenant farmer's house. The farmer and another. As Casy puts it, "Maybe all men got one big soul his family do not know what to do. ever'body's a part of." Analysis Chapter 5 In Chapter 5, Steinbeck introduces and develops the extended metaphor of the "Bank monster," thereby describing the Summary process through which tenant farmers are forced off their land. According to Steinbeck, none of the people involved with implementing this process take personal responsibility for their Steinbeck describes the landowners driving in their cars onto actions. Steinbeck states, "And all of them were caught in the tenants' farms. Tenant families, such as the Joads, watch something larger than themselves." This "something larger" is the owners suspiciously. The owner men talk with the men who the Bank, or Company, which the author views as a monster. work the land. Some owners try to be kind, some are angry, The Bank monster, therefore, has a life of its own, and all the and others are cold. However, they all are part of the Bank, or people who work for the monster, no matter how lofty their Company, and have to carry out their duties. positions, are really the slaves of the monster. The owners talk with the tenant men about how poor the crops To survive, the monster needs to make more and more of a have been. As a result, the tenants borrow money from the profit. If the monster remains the same size, it dies. As a result, banks to pay taxes. However, the owners explain that the the people who work for the monster are obligated to banks can't keep giving loans unless they start to see more constantly feed it with more profits. The land that the tenant profit. Tension builds between the owners and the tenant men farmers work on is not giving the monster enough profit, as the tenant women look on and sigh. The owners finally say because of the drought and poor crops. Because of this, the that the tenant system is broken and the tenants will "have to owners tell the tenants to get off the land. Many of the owners get off the land. The plows'll go through the dooryard." The do not like telling the farmers to leave, but they feel they must. tenant men get angry and describe the bond their families have The Bank monster, therefore, has a momentum all its own, and with the land they work. The owners understand, but the banks all the people involved with the Bank are swept up in this still demand that the tenants leave. The owners suggest that movement. The tenant farmers who leave the land and go to

California are also seen as part of this movement. The owners earn to move out west. Muley refuses to leave, even though his suggest that the farmers go to California, where a person can family has left. Instead, he stays in the area, eating off the land. "reach out anywhere and pick an orange." Even though this depiction is eventually shown to be a lie, the enticement works Tom says he's hungry, and Muley dumps out three rabbits from and serves the purpose of the monster. It gets the people off his pouch. Tom skins the rabbits, and Muley and Casy build a the land. fire. As they roast the rabbits, Muley wonders if they think he is "touched" because of the way he lives. Muley explains that he Steinbeck then shows how the Bank monster can dehumanize has a strong bond with the land because of the personal things its workers. A tractor plows over a farm, destroying what gets that have happened on it, such as the birth of his son. He in its way. The tractor, therefore, is connected to Tom's expresses his anger at the "sons-a-bitches" who work for the description of the turtle as a bulldozer. Like the turtle, the Company. tractor and its driver single-mindedly go along their determined path. In the process, the driver becomes a type of robot As the three men devour the rabbits, Tom describes how he following orders. Steinbeck describes him as "gloved, goggled, was stabbed by a drunken man at a dance and, in self-defense, rubber dust mask over nose and mouth," stripping him of hit the man with a shovel, killing him. He ruminates about how humanity and making him more like a machine. During the talk prison doesn't make sense, because it's supposed to deter a between the tenant farmer and the tractor driver, Steinbeck person from committing a crime again but doesn't. Tom says reinforces the idea introduced in Chapter 2 of how people who he would commit the crime again if placed in the same work for the Company or the Bank often end up acting selfishly situation. Suddenly, Casy gets an inspiration and realizes his because they work solely for their own gain. new calling is to help people who have been forced off their land and are moving away in search of work. Tom asks Casy to The major defense of the Bank monster is the lack of any come with him and his folks, and he accepts. The deputy person or people to blame. As a result, the tenant farmer has sheriff approaches in a car, and Tom, Casy, and Muley hide in no one to shoot. The monster acts of its own volition, and the the field. The sheriff sweeps a searchlight around and then people who work for it and are harmed by it seem to have no leaves. Tom, Casy, and Muley go to a cave to hide and get alternative except to get swept up in its momentum. some sleep.

Chapter 6 Analysis

In Chapter 6, Steinbeck takes the process he described in Summary Chapter 5 of people being forced off their land and makes it personal. By doing this, he develops the themes of selfishness versus kindness and meekness versus wrath. The author Tom and Casy stand on a hill and look down at the Joad house. describes in detail the abandoned Joad farm with cotton It shows many signs of being abandoned, such as the house growing in the dooryard, the dry well, the broken window, and being "pushed off its foundations." Tom and Casy head down the sagging walls. He talks about the gate being open, even to the house and look around, finding a deserted barn shed. though his mother always made sure it was shut. He notices a Tom worries that his family might be dead. high-buttoned shoe, which his mother loved, left lying on the Casy and Tom sit on the porch and try to figure out what floor. Casy remembers baptizing people in a nearby ditch. happened. Tom realizes that other farm families in the area Steinbeck continues to make the eviction of people off their must have also left their homes because no one has stolen the farms personal with the character of Muley Graves. This man lumber from the Joad house. Tom then lets the turtle loose, has formed such a strong bond with the land that he refuses to thinking that keeping it until he finds his family would be too leave, even though his family has left. The author describes him much trouble. Casy sees a figure approaching, which turns out as a stubborn man with "little eyes, half scowling, half petulant." to be a neighbor named Muley Graves. Muley recognizes Tom Steinbeck even gives Muley a name that reflects his and Casy and tells them that the Joad family moved to Uncle personality. The name "Muley" suggests the saying "stubborn John's house. They are chopping cotton and saving what they

as a mule." The name "Graves" suggests that the entire area price. He notices a male customer and says, "Don't know his that Muley haunts is now a graveyard. Muley admits, "I'm jus ass from a hole in the ground. Try him on that Apperson." The wanderin' aroun' like a damn ol' graveyard ghos'." Muley's head salesman puts a car that is a great bargain on a platform explanation of why he hasn't left is painful. His father was to entice customers in. But he never sells this car. He tells his gored to death by a bull, and his blood is still in the land. "I put staff to kick out people who are taking too long to make up my han' right on that groun' where that blood is still." His son their minds. He tries to soften up customers by being friendly was also born in that house. Muley feels that this land is a part at first. of his life, of who he is. He's furious at the Company and its workers, who forced people off the farms because it's as if A tenant farmer says he can't pay more than fifty, which is the they cut the people in half by separating them from their land. price quoted by another salesperson. The head salesman says Steinbeck, therefore, is making the forced eviction of people as that he'll have to fire that salesperson. He can't sell the car for personal as their own flesh and blood. less than sixty. The tenant says he can trade a pair of mules. The head salesman finds humor in the offer because he has no Steinbeck also contrasts Tom's and Casy's responses to the use for mules. The tenant says he might go to another dealer. abandoned house and Muley's explanations. Casy gets The salesman accuses the tenant of wasting his time. The inspired to start a new vocation by using his preaching to help tenant says he has to get a car to go to California. The the people who have been evicted and are moving west in salesman pretends he's giving the tenant a great deal and search of work. Casy, therefore, focuses on the big picture and offers to buy the mules cheap. He tells the tenant to put down how he can fit in with this picture and serve people. However, a deposit for the car and pay the rest on installment. The as Muley gives his emotional talk, Tom remains focused on the tenant is hesitant, and the salesman uses guilt to close the meal he is about to eat. What seems to concern him most are deal, telling the tenant "I'm givin' you my shirt." The tenant his immediate needs and not the big picture. After Muley agrees. After the sale, the salesman reveals how he exploited describes the emotional birth of his son, Tom just clears his the tenant by selling the car for more than it is worth. The head throat and says that they had better eat their food now. When salesman is so busy selling cars to tenant farmers that he the sheriff comes, Tom wants to fight him, showing no doesn't have time for lunch. He gets tough with a tenant who forethought about what would happen to him if he does. Muley bought a car and wants to return it. The selling of cars to reminds Tom that he would be thrown back in prison. Only then tenant farmers goes on and on. does Tom decide to repress his immediate urge to fight. Tom is worried about his family and what happened to them. But this again is an immediate concern. The family is gone, and he Analysis wants to find them. What happens beyond that does not concern him for the time being. In Chapter 7, Steinbeck develops the selfishness theme by stressing how used-car dealers can exploit those who have little money but need a vehicle. The head salesman views Chapter 7 customers as objects to be manipulated and cheated. He has his salesmen use various manipulative techniques, such as convincing the woman to buy, knowing that the man will go Summary along. The cars often have problems, such as shot upholstery. The quality of the merchandise makes no difference to the head salesman. In fact, he takes pride in selling shoddy cars to Steinbeck describes how used-car dealers sell cars through customers for much more than they're worth. He wants more the point of view of a head salesman. The salesman wants his and more jalopies to sell, whether they run or not. This desire is sales staff to use techniques such as quoting a high price for a repeated throughout the chapter. All that matters are the car and then working the price down. Many of the cars are run- profits. He can sell these cars with a large profit margin, which down. connects him to the Bank monster and its need for more and The head salesman wants jalopies such as the Apperson more profits. because he can buy them cheap and sell them for twice the Indeed, the entire used-car dealership can be seen as a type of

machine. This machine entices customers by showing a great Ma suddenly sees her son standing in the doorway, she is bargain on display or being friendly to the male customer, stunned and overjoyed in a controlled way. She is heavy, but offering him a drink on the side. But it is all a part of a not fat, and has a "controlled, kindly" face. Ma is worried about predetermined method to sell more and more cars. This her son. She thinks he might have broken out of prison, but method is shown in detail with the talk between the tenant Tom reassures her that he was paroled. Also, she worries that farmer and the head salesman. The salesman knows exactly Tom was abused in prison, making him "poisoned mad." Tom what buttons to push to get the desired result from the tenant says he was mad for a while but then "let stuff run off'n me." farmer. The salesman has done the routine many times before. In fact, the salesmen themselves are just following prescribed Granma and Grampa hurry from the barn, anxious to greet techniques, not caring at all how they might harm the Tom. Grampa is a cantankerous old man. His wife is devotedly customer. They have become selfish robots, like the tractor religious and has a combative but affectionate relationship with driver in Chapter 5. These salespeople probably justify their her husband. Noah, Tom's brother, also greets him. Noah is a actions by claiming they need to make a living for their families. quiet, calm young man "who [is] not stupid, but he [is] strange." They can't worry about how they affect others. The family asks Casy to say grace before breakfast. Casy reluctantly agrees, pointing out that he's not a preacher In Chapter 7, Steinbeck also foreshadows how landowners in anymore. He says an unusual grace that emphasizes the unity California will manipulate tenant farmers. This type of situation of humans into one thing. The family, including Casy, devours repeats because the tenant farmers are in a position of the breakfast. The men go outside and look over the truck. disadvantage that can be exploited by businesses to make Tom wonders where other members of the family are, including money. The farmers have little money and need to travel to find Rose of Sharon, Uncle John, Ruthie, and Winfield. Pa says that work to feed their families. As a result, the used-car dealers Rose of Sharon is married and pregnant and, for the time take advantage of the farmer's desperation to sell them being, is staying with her husband's folks. Then Tom's brother shoddy merchandise at too high a price. As will be seen later in Al arrives and greets him. He is described as a cocky young the novel, landowners in California will also take advantage of man who likes to chase girls. the farmer's desperation. The selfishness theme, therefore, is broadly applicable. Analysis

Chapter 8 In Chapter 8, Steinbeck describes key members of the Joad family and shows each character's role within the family system. Pa is physically strong and has features that suggest Summary pride, such as a "forceful chin, a chin thrust out and built out by the stubble." The description implies that Pa is the breadwinner of the family through hard, physical labor over many years. Ma Tom and Casy walk down a dusty road in the early morning is shown as a strong, sturdy woman with hints of gentleness light toward Uncle John's home. Tom discusses a tragic event about her: "Her full face was not soft; it was controlled, kindly." that ended Uncle John's marriage. His wife complained of a She is a woman who has endured a lot, which has increased stomachache, and John said it would pass. However, the illness her calmness and understanding. She is the heart and soul of got worse and she died. Since then, John has been racked by the family. Indeed, family members look to her to see if they guilt. He often donates his belongings, especially to children, should be afraid or joyful. In this way, she acts as the family's but even so he is miserable. anchor—a strong presence that stabilizes and unifies the Tom and Casy arrive at Uncle John's place. Tom realizes that family. Pa is the head of the family, but Ma is the family's his family is preparing for a long trip. He sneaks up on Pa, who center. is working on a truck. Pa is a physically strong man, hardened Granma and Grampa are both eccentric. Grampa has the by work, but he is stunned and happy to see his son. Pa tells personality of a mischievous child who likes to play pranks, tell Tom that the family is going to California. Tom also wants to dirty jokes, and fight with those who anger him. In contrast, his surprise Ma. Pa goes along with this idea. In the kitchen, when wife is very religious and, because of this, often fights with her

husband. One time she even "fired both barrels of a shotgun at At first, the men try to ruthlessly go through their possessions her husband." However, despite her disapproval of her and find items that might bring a good price. They might as well husband's wicked ways, she has a strong affection for him. "sell the team and the wagon," as there is "no more use" for They are treated with respect within the family. them. However, they can't help but reflect on the personal meaning of some things, musing about how a bay gelding Tom's brother Noah is an odd young man. He keeps to himself "lifted his feet when he trotted." The women are more aware of and always remains calm. He gives the appearance of being what they are leaving behind. They recall memories connected misshapen, even though none of his limbs are deformed. He is, with many items, such as a book a father liked to read, the pipe in a way, an outsider within his own family. However, the family he smoked, and a letter from a brother written the day before seems to accept him for who he is. Al is Tom's randy younger he died. Leaving the land involves leaving part of who they are: brother who knows something about automobiles. At first, he "This land, this red land, is us." This statement relates to the seems cocky, but then he takes on a humble appearance when idea of the oversoul, which asserts that all living things are he sees Tom. Al looks up to Tom, partly because he killed a interconnected. man, which has given him an almost legendary reputation. Steinbeck also stresses how this process of forced leaving Everyone in the family looks up to Tom. His father and mother passes on bitterness. A tenant farmer bargaining with another obviously love him deeply. He is like the prodigal son returning man as he sells his belongings says, "You're buying bitterness." home. Despite his crimes—or perhaps because of them—he is Elaborating, he tells the man he is "buying a plow to plow your looked up to as being special, the guy who dared to kill a man own children under." As he sells his horses, the tenant man and not submit. Pa and Ma immediately wonder if Tom has remembers how his daughter used to braid the manes and "put broken out of prison. They obviously know about his anger and little red bows on them." The buyer offers a low price. At first unwillingness to be pushed around. this angers the tenant man, but then he gives in. The tenant man warns that the buyer is obtaining not only objects, but also the bitterness that comes with them, which will cause suffering Chapter 9 in the buyer's own home. The tenant man also claims that the buyer is "buying the arms and spirits that might have saved you." Summary This idea of passing on bitterness or good will relates back to Steinbeck's concept that human beings are part of one big The tenant families, such as the Joads, look through their soul of humanity. Therefore, when buyers purchase personal belongings to find things to sell and get money for the journey items for a low price, they are not only doing harm to the west. They take tools, jewelry, carts, and many other tenant families, but also to themselves. In contrast, if buyers possessions to sell. A tenant man bargains with a person as he attempt to help tenant families, they create good. sells his plow and horses and wagon. After the sale, some tenant men buy a pint and "[drink] it fast to make the impact hard and stunning." They are somber, not happy, as they drink. Then the tenant families look through their remaining Chapter 10 possessions and pick out ones they feel they must take with them. It is difficult to choose. The women recall memories associated with various items. The families pile the remaining Summary goods and burn them. The families then load up the cars and drive away. In Uncle John's kitchen, Tom talks with Ma about California. Ma doubts California is a land of plenty, saying she fears "somepin' ain't so nice about it." Tom tells her not to worry about the Analysis future and instead to just focus on the present. But he admits that a guy who came back from California said the state has Steinbeck emphasizes how the process of the tenant families too many workers. Casy enters and asks if he can go with leaving their land involves leaving behind a part of themselves.

them to California. Ma says that he would most likely be he is no longer the leader but remains part of the nucleus. Tom, welcome but that the family has to talk about it first. Connie, and Noah are not the main leaders but, as men, are seen as secondary leaders. They squat near Pa and Uncle Al drives a truck toward Uncle John's house, with Uncle John John. Ma, Rose of Sharon, and Granma stand around the and Pa seated next to him and Ruthie, Winfield, Rose of squatting men. They are not the leaders, but they are seen as a Sharon, and Connie standing in the truck bed. Ruthie is starting support for the family. Ruthie and Winfield squirm near the to develop sexually and tries to act like a lady. Windfield is a women. They hold the lowest position within the family. "snot-nosed" kid who is kind of wild. Rose of Sharon is a young woman who is a few months pregnant and has "the self- The family works well together, each member doing his or her sufficient smile, the knowing perfection look." Her husband, job. Steinbeck shows this during the killing and carving up of Connie, is a lean young man who is a hard worker. Uncle John the pig. Each family member does his or her part without being has extreme mood swings and habits, such as abstaining from told what to do. They all know their roles. As a result, the pig is liquor for a long time and then drinking himself into a stupor. Al slaughtered efficiently. The only person who breaks this feels a strong responsibility for taking care of the truck. All prescribed method is Casy, when he helps Ma salt the pork. three men are angry about being cheated by the person who Ma is surprised because "it's women's work." Also, family bought their team and wagon and other equipment. members show kindness and consideration for other members. Ma worries about going to California, thereby foreshadowing After the truck arrives at Uncle John's house, Ruthie and that the Joads might face problems in this state. Tom tries to Winfield happily but shyly greet their older brother Tom. Rose give her good advice. Al takes his role as the truck specialist of Sharon introduces her husband, Connie, to Tom. The family very seriously and tries to make sure the truck is in good then has a meeting to prepare for the trip, during which they condition for the benefit of the family. The family decides to discuss the condition of the truck and agree that Casy can drug Grampa because they fear that forcing him to go on the come along. The men slaughter their pigs and carve them up. trip would harm the old man. Tom then suggests they get ready to leave that night instead of waiting until the next day. The family agrees and a flurry of Steinbeck subtly develops the theme of Individual versus activity commences. Ma and Noah prepare the pork; Rose of Community in this chapter. This development deals with a Sharon helps with the packing; and Tom loads the tools. Ma person having a narrow vision of the world as opposed to a makes the difficult decision about what personal belongings to wider vision. Ma doubts that California is a place where "little leave behind. The family loads the truck, and then Muley comes fellas go out an' pick oranges right off the trees." Tom tells her to say good-bye. Suddenly, Grampa decides he's not going to not to worry too much about the future but instead to focus on leave. Instead of forcing him, the family drugs Grampa's coffee. each day. In a way, this is good advice. Ma admits, "that's a He drinks it and goes to sleep. The family then carries Grampa good way." Such an approach can reduce anxiety. Like the to the truck. Everyone gets into the truck. The truck pulls away land turtle, Tom advises to just put one foot in front of the with Al driving, leaving "Muley standing forlornly in the dooryard other each day and single-mindedly head down the path. It's no looking after them." surprise that Tom learned to do this in prison, a place of extreme confinement. This approach helps the individual to cope with life's hardships. However, this approach also has its Analysis limitations. Perhaps if the Joad family had a wider view, they would realize that going to California is chasing a false dream. In Chapter 10, Steinbeck develops the theme of the community They might realize that they are joining a community of of humanity by using the Joad family as a microcosm of this migrants who are being exploited. In contrast, Casy is community. This family works together for the mutual benefit constantly thinking outside the box. He realizes that something of its members, as opposed to the machine-like Bank monster, bigger is happening, and he wants to learn what it is. He has a in which people work for the selfish benefit of the monster. wider vision. For example, he offers to help Ma salt the pork Each person in the Joad family has a well-defined position. even though its "woman's work." Casy says, "It's all work." He Steinbeck defines these roles by the way the family members sees beyond the strict gender work roles. He justifies his position themselves during the meeting. Pa and Uncle John actions by saying, "They's too much of it to split it up to men's squat in the center; they are the leaders. Grampa sits nearby; or women's work."

Chapter 11 needs of the Bank monster. In the second part of this chapter, Steinbeck conveys the mood of the houses after the tenant farmers vacate them. The Summary general tone is one of sadness, loss, and waste. In the previous chapters, the author establishes that the tenant farmers have a After families like the Joads leave, their houses and land are strong connection with the houses where they live. These left vacant. Tractors work the land, and the machines are alive places are their homes. In this chapter, Steinbeck shows what with metal and oil. In contrast, the tenant farmers had used happens to these homes after the farmers leave. The reader animals to work the land, creating a warm, breathing, natural knows that the rooms where cats creep, bats fly through, and environment. The tractors die when they are turned off. After kids break windows were once places where people lived, work, the tractor drivers go to homes 20 or so miles away. laughed, and grieved. So Steinbeck does not need to describe They form no relationship with the land. They understand the how people used to live in these rooms. All he needs to do is land and human beings only in terms of the chemicals in it. The describe the weeds growing under the porch, the dust settling, tenant farmers, however, had realized that the land and its and other details to convey the sadness, loss, and waste of people were much more than a chemical analysis. these vacated buildings.

In the vacant house, little boys break the windows. Cats creep through the rooms. Bats sweep through the house and Chapter 12 eventually hang from the rafters. Weeds and grass grow by the front door, where they had not previously been allowed. Sheathing splits apart, and dust settles on the floor. The wind Summary loosens and lifts off shingles from the roof.

"Highway 66 is the main migrant road," the narrator begins, Analysis elaborating that "66 is the mother road, the road of flight." It is the road that many side roads feed into through the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. It is the road that Steinbeck divides Chapter 11 into two parts. In the first section, transverses high mountains and the great plateau in Arizona he contrasts the mechanical methods of farming used by the and a terrible desert in California. And it is the road that leads Bank monster with the more human methods of farming used to a beautiful valley in California. by the tenant farmers. By doing this, he develops the Selfishness theme and the Individual versus Community theme. Migrant people like the Joads stream onto 66, riding in The Bank monster is concerned only with making more and overloaded trucks and cars and fearing that some vehicle more profits. It uses the land to maximize these profits. The noise means a mechanical breakdown. Tires wear out and most efficient way of farming the land is to use tractors to farm need to be replaced or patched up. Migrants buy tires from large areas. Detailed chemical analysis is used to get the most people who are annoyed by the migrants and try to cheat production out of the land. However, Steinbeck claims that this them. These people say too many migrants are going to approach creates a cold, dead relationship with the land. California, and the police in this state are turning people away Nothing living remains on the land. No strong bond is made who can't buy real estate. The migrants get angry about being with the land. Everything becomes scientific and objectified. As cheated. They think that business is just a legal way to cheat a result, this approach has destroyed the community of tenant and steal. farmers, which was based on the strong bond between the farmers and the land. The tenant farmers had used animals to As the migrants travel 66, they become desperate: "Food's farm and created a warm, life-giving environment. They had gettin' low ... money's gettin' low. When we can't buy no more lived on the land and formed a community based on working in gas—what then?" The author states that more than 250,000 harmony with the land. But the land is now the home of the migrants travel across 66. Once, he said, a migrant family built "machine man, driving a dead tractor." The machine man is just a trailer and loaded it with possessions and waited at the side an individual using a tractor to exploit the land for the selfish of a road. Soon a sedan picked them up and towed the trailer

all the way to California, and the driver even fed them. The wondering what the country is coming to. Casy and Tom talk to narrator concludes the story by saying that the migrants' initial him about the large number of people moving. Rose of Sharon action was a great act of faith. and Connie make plans for buying a house after they earn money in California. The Joads' dog wanders into the road and gets run over by a car. Rose of Sharon sees the accident and Analysis worries that the shock might harm the baby she's carrying. Tom and John drag the dead dog to the side of the road. The In Chapter 12, Steinbeck relates the overall experience of gas station owner says he'll bury the dog. migrant families traveling on Highway 66 to California. He describes this highway as the "mother road." This name has Tom now drives the truck. The Joads pass through Oklahoma stuck. Even though Route 66, as it was later called, was City and approach Bethany, near the Oklahoma border. Ma decommissioned in the 1980s, it is still referred to as the worries about Tom crossing the state line and breaking parole. Mother Road. Tom says the only difference between a regular person and a person breaking parole is that the paroled person will get a The details that Steinbeck presents in the chapter stress the stiffer sentence if he's arrested. Tom pulls the car over near a precariousness and difficulty of the migrants' journey on 66. ditch, where a man works on a car. Tom asks the man if his They must worry about every noise, which might signal a major family can camp here. The man appreciates Tom's courtesy problem that could derail their desperate journey. When and says, "Proud to have ya." A "wizened woman" comes out of something does go wrong, they are cheated into paying the tent and welcomes the Joads. The Joad family starts to set exorbitant prices. The constant worry about food and money up camp. The two folks with the car introduce themselves as grinds them down. Steinbeck uses the litany of cares to build Ivy and Sairy Wilson. The Joads realize that Grampa is sick. sympathy for the migrants. Sairy says that Grampa can lie down on the bed in their tent. Ma helps Grampa into the tent and lays him down. Casy In addition, Steinbeck develops the theme of selfishness and examines Grampa and thinks he's having a stroke. Granma kindness. The salesmen selling tires act selfishly by cheating comes to see her husband and asks Casy to pray for him. He the migrant travelers. For example, one tries to sell tires that reluctantly says the Lord's Prayer. Grampa dies. have a bad casing. The migrants get angry, fueling their growing wrath. In contrast, the story of the sedan driver who The Joads gather in a meeting and discuss how to bury towed one family's trailer and fed the family shows great Grampa. They could have a legal burial with an undertaker that kindness. Some cruel things happen to migrant families that would cost about 40 dollars, or they could have Grampa buried fuel their anger. Other things happen to them that are "so cheaply as a pauper. The first burial is too expensive, and the beautiful that the faith is refired forever." second seems undignified. Pa says he wants to bury his father himself without letting the officials know it. Others agree. Ma prepares the body for burying, placing coins over the closed Chapter 13 eyes and using of strip of cloth to tie up the jaw. Rose of Sharon worries that the trauma of Grampa dying might harm her baby, and Ma and Sairy try to reassure her that it won't. Summary The men dig the grave. Then Tom writes a note that identifies his grandfather and what he died of and places it in a jar. Ma The Joads ride in their truck through Oklahoma from Sallisaw puts the jar under Grampa's cold hands. The men place the to Castle. As Al drives, he almost becomes one with truck as body, wrapped in a comforter, in the grave, and then Casy says he listens for any noise that might indicate a breakdown. He a prayer. Pa covers the corpse with dirt and starts to make a stops the truck by the roadside, allowing people to relieve their mound. Tom tells his father to leave the grave flat to disguise it bladders and eat "crisp particles from the pork bones." better.

The Joads ride their truck to Paden, where they stop to get As the Joads and the Wilsons eat supper, Tom and Al share gas at a rundown gas station. The gas-station owner the idea of joining forces with the Wilsons. They can fix the car complains that he's not getting enough trade and keeps and keep it running. Also, some of the Joads could ride with the

Wilsons, and the Wilsons could put some of their lighter offers her tent for Grampa to rest in and helps in preparing him belongings in the truck. As a result, the Joads would lighten for burial. The Joads realize that the Wilsons are in a jam with their load. The families agree. They all go to sleep, except for their broken-down car and offer to fix it. Eventually, the two Sairy, who "[braces] her body firmly against pain." families decide to join forces and travel together. For Steinbeck, kindness naturally leads to forming a community of humanity. Analysis Also, Steinbeck deals with the theme of a narrow vision versus Steinbeck further explores the Selfishness versus Kindness a wider vision. Early in the chapter, Ma says she can't worry theme in Chapter 13. He uses the gas-station owner to start much about the future because she has enough to think about this exploration. This man is an independent owner trying to be with taking care of her family. Ma has taken the advice Tom like the people working for the large Companies. For example, offered in Chapter 10, to just focus on the present and not be his station is painted yellow in imitation of the big Company concerned about what might happen. She has decided to stations, but "the paint couldn't cover the old nail holes and the narrow her vision. Later, the gas station owner keeps old cracks in the lumber." His imitation is a failure. He tries to wondering "what the country's comin' to" and what all these be firm with migrant families who can't pay for gas. For this migrants are going to do. These are big-picture questions. Tom reason, he is at first ornery toward the Joads. When he learns just replies, "Tryin' to get along. That's all." Tom is trying to that the family can pay, he softens. So the owner attempts to keep his focus narrow and gets annoyed at the owner with his be tough and hard-hearted like the people working for the big constant questions. Casy, though, replies by using the symbol Companies. However, once again, this attempt fails. He has of the Gila monster. He describes how the monster can bite allowed people to trade for gas. "One family traded a doll their someone and hang on even when it is chopped in half. Also, the kid had for a gallon." Gila monster poisons a person with its bite. The Gila monster relates to the Bank monster. The Gila is the entire system of At first, Tom is antagonistic toward the gas-station owner. greed that has taken hold of Americans, forcing poor people However, when he realizes that the owner is poor, his attitude off their land and making them move. It is a system that will becomes more sympathetic. He says to the owner, "Pretty hang on for dear life until it is pried loose. soon you'll be on the road yourse'f." The owner wonders how Tom knew that he and his family were thinking of moving. In addition, Steinbeck uses the death of the dog to foreshadow Steinbeck, therefore, is showing how people just concerned the many tragedies the Joad family will face. A dog getting run about getting ahead and making a profit often act selfishly over on a highway is inevitable. The question is whether the toward other people. However, when people allow themselves Joads, like the dog, will be crushed by the onrush of to be affected by sympathy and understanding, they act more catastrophes. kindly toward others. Ironically, though, this gentler attitude can lead to financial problems, such as those the gas-station owner faces. Chapter 14

Later in the chapter, the Joads meet the Wilson family. Both families are poor migrants. When Tom asks if his family can Summary camp next to the Wilsons, Ivy Wilson is at first annoyed and confused. He can't figure out why Tom is asking permission. The West is apprehensive of change. The wealthy landowners When Tom reassures him that he's just being polite, Ivy seems are concerned because they sense this change. However, the relieved and takes a friendly attitude. The Joads and Wilson owners focus on results and not on causes, so they worry immediately form a bond. They are common people who about the growing labor party and new taxes. The causes, recognize the needs of others and, as a result, are willing to be however, are deeper and simpler: a person's hunger, need for kind and help one another. They see one another as human intellectual growth, and desire to create more than him or beings, not as consumer objects to make a profit from. Sairy herself. Humans are different from animals because they want and Ivy immediately recognize that the Joads are in a difficult to achieve their concepts. Humans grow by taking one step situation with Grampa and do what they can to help. Sairy

forward and a half step back. Various conflicts, such as wars only because it is used to serve the selfish desires of the and labor strikes, show that the human spirit has not died but individual. The tractor, therefore, not only removes people from instead is still striving to take the next step. the land but also increases the barriers between people. It helps to increase profits for the individual owners, thereby The land companies drive people off the land. They use increasing their separation from the human community. As a tractors to plow the land, which are bad because they are used result, the owners are separated from the harm they do to to serve the "I" and not the "we." If the tractor plowing the other people. In response to this, the migrant families must land—and the land itself—belonged to the people, then the take action to counteract this single-minded process that is tractor would serve the good. People would remain connected ruining their lives. The strength of these families lies in unity, in to the land. But the tractor of the land companies "turns the the community. Two families share food and are less hungry. land and turns us off the land." The more people take care of one another's needs, the more they grow in strength. One woman gives another a blanket for A single family driven from the land, such as the Joads, will her baby. Steinbeck claims that the business owners should become lost and bewildered. However, when one migrant bomb the shared blankets and shared food, for these shared family makes friends with another migrant family, then they are goods between people mark the beginning of a strong both less alone and lost. This is what the land companies community based on "our" that will threaten the business should worry about. As more people join together, they support owners frozen in "I." one another, gain strength, and form a movement that has direction. But the act of owning freezes the land companies forever into the "I" and cuts them off from the "we." Need has stimulated people to form concepts, and concepts lead to Chapter 15 action. "The Western States are nervous under the beginning of change." Summary

Analysis Along Highway 66, plenty of eateries are found filled with nickel phonographs, flashy ads, pies, oranges, and cold Steinbeck archives a social shift the western part of the United cereals. In one diner, a middle-aged waitress named Mae States. He is aware that the labor movement in the 1930s is works the counter, and Al cooks on a griddle. Mae flirts with starting to be more widely accepted. In 1935, the National the truck drivers because they provide most of the business. Labor Relations Act required employers to bargain with unions All kind of cars rush past on the highway. In big cars, ladies for more benefits for employees. Many business owners were who use a ton of cosmetics sit next to "pot-bellied" husbands upset by this and worried about the growing labor party and who work for businesses and worry about financial security. A the widening influence of the government. Steinbeck, though, couple like this stops at Mae's café and buys only a soda. Mae claims that big-business owners focus on the wrong thing. If doesn't like these kind of people; they never buy much. they focused on the causes, instead of the results, then they could prevent the need for labor unions. According to Two truck drivers enter the restaurant. Mae talks with them Steinbeck, humans have an innate need to step forward and about the kind of pie they want and listens to dirty jokes. One achieve a concept that improves life. This type of urge requires of the drivers describes an accident involving a big car and a a sense of working with people to improve the common good. truck loaded with a migrant family and their belongings. A It requires a sense of "we," not "I." However, the author migrant child was killed. The truckers and Mae wonder where concludes that the business owners are incapable of doing all the migrants are coming from and where they're going. this, because they are frozen in the "I." By stressing this, Then a sedan with migrants pulls up to the restaurant. A man Steinbeck shows how the theme of Individual versus and his two sons get out. The man asks if he can get water Community applies to the mindset of business owners. from a hose. Mae allows him. Then the man asks about buying

Also, Steinbeck shows how the theme of selfishness relates to a loaf of bread for 10 cents. Mae says that they don't sell the theme of Individual versus Community. The tractor is bad loaves and use bread only to make sandwiches. The man says

he has to make his money go as far as possible and asks her entity. This interaction allows Mae and Al to feel sympathy for to make an exception. Al tells Mae to sell them the loaf. At first the migrants. With Al's prodding, Mae sells the man a 15-cent hesitant, Mae eventually agrees. As the man buys the loaf, the loaf for only 10 cents. Added to this, she allows the man to buy sons ogle peppermint sticks. The man asks if the candy is a two candy sticks for a penny. They really cost a nickel each. penny per stick. Mae says that it sells for a penny for two The truckers realize this and leave a huge tip. For Steinbeck, sticks. The man buys the candy and each boy takes a stick. kindness leads to more kindness. When people show sympathy The migrant man and his sons leave. A trucker says that the for others, they encourage more people to show sympathy. It candy was really a nickel each. Mae replies defensively. The becomes infectious. truckers leave much more money than the cost of their pie and coffee. Mae reverently says, "Truck drivers." Al then plays a slot machine because it's ready to pay off. He hits the jackpot Chapter 16 and puts the money in his cash register. More truckers enter the café. Summary

Analysis The Joad and Wilson families travel across the Texas Panhandle and into New Mexico, where "the land rolled like Steinbeck describes in detail the eating places found along great stationary ground swells." Al drives the car, with Ma and Highway 66, including the type of people who run these cafés. Rose of Sharon seated next to him. Rose of Sharon talks about During this description, Steinbeck gives the impression that the the dreams for a better life that she and Connie have. "We'll live cafés are successful because they cater to their main in town an' go to [the] pitchers." Ma doesn't like the idea of her customers—truck drivers. Everything is geared to satisfying daughter and Connie leaving the family but senses that it's these customers. The waitress, Mae, shamelessly flirts with the probably a pipe dream. Soon Al hears a rattle noise from the truckers, such as fixing her hair "so that her breasts will lift with engine and pulls the car over. The Joad's truck also stops and her raised arms." The cafés offer food that the truckers enjoy, backs up to the car. Al and Tom examine the car and realize like greasy hamburgers, good coffee, and a wide selection of the bearing is broken. pies. The cook, Al, silently and efficiently does his job. In addition, he makes extra money by keeping track of when the Tom comes up with a plan that involves him and Casy fixing restaurant's slot machines will pay off. When a slot machine is the car while the rest of them continue on in the truck. Then due, Al plays it, gets the jackpot, and puts the money in his Tom and Casy will catch up. Pa agrees, but Ma does not. She cash register. grabs a jack handle and angrily defies her husband's decision. She wants the family to stay together; in her view, they have Cafés such as this seem like efficient little businesses in that nothing "lef' in the worl' ... but us." Pa gives in, and Tom are concerned with making money, even if it means cheating reluctantly agrees to let his mother win. Tom and Casy remove with the slot machines. In a way, they do not seem too the broken parts from the car while the Wilsons and the rest of dissimilar to the large land companies that are concerned only the Joads drive to a nearby camp. Al then drives the truck back with making profits. However, Steinbeck shows that there is a to the car. He tells Tom that Granma is very sick. difference with these small businesses. By showing this difference, he develops the theme of kindness. These cafés Casy stays with the car, and Al, accompanied by Tom, drives are owned by people who interact face-to-face with their the truck to a wrecking yard. Here they meet a one-eyed customers. Al and Mae know the truck drivers by name. They worker who allows them to look for their needed parts in the share stories and tell jokes. Because of this type of interaction, yard. As Tom removes parts from a car, the worker complains Mae comes in direct contact with a migrant and his two sons. about his boss and how difficult it is for a one-eyed man to get They are no longer abstract people who are continually driving a good job. Tom tells him to quit feeling sorry for himself. past in overloaded trucks. She sees the boys wearing "ragged, Shaken momentarily from his self-pitying, the worker gives patched overalls." She notices the man's dark-blue shirt with Tom and Al the necessary parts for a low price. sweat on the back. So when the migrant man asks to buy a loaf of bread, Mae is interacting with a person, not an abstract Al drives Tom back to the car. Tom uses the new parts to fix

the car. Tom drives the car, and Al drives the truck to the camp focus on the events of each day and nothing else. This way of where the Joads and Wilsons are staying. Tom argues with the coping is bred from extreme confinement. Tom, though, still camp proprietor about paying money for keeping the car at the uses this coping mechanism in the outside world, which has camp even though his family has already paid for staying at the the effect of confining him as a person. camp. Then a raggedy man tells Pa, Tom, Casy, and Al about the terrible conditions migrant workers face in California. The Another element that Steinbeck explores is Tom's man has just come back from the state, where his wife and unwillingness to feel sorry for himself. This is shown through children died from hunger. They believe the man's story but his interaction with the one-eyed worker. Tom sees through decide not to tell Ma and the others about it. Tom says he'll the worker's self-pitying and has no patience for it. He tells the drive the car to the side of the road so he won't have to pay the worker to do things to get out of his rut, like buying a patch and camp fee. There he'll wait for his family and the Wilsons to cleaning himself up. Tom believes that a person has the ability arrive in the truck. to change his circumstances in life.

Finally, Steinbeck reinforces that Tom has the spirit of a rebel Analysis through his conflict with the camp proprietor. As Tom leaves the camp, the proprietor calls him a troublemaker. Tom replies, "Damn right ... I'm bolshevisky," a term for a Communist. He In Chapter 16, Steinbeck develops the character of Ma. Ma is then laughs and throws a clod at the camp light, flustering the the center of the family, the force that unifies the family. proprietor. Tom will not be pushed around and relishes being However, Pa and Uncle John are the leaders. This dynamic defiant. changes when Ma defies her husband about breaking the family up. Ma's belief that the family must stay together is so strong that she grabs a jack handle and threatens her husband with a beating. Pa is stunned and says, "I never seen her so Chapter 17 sassy." Through her defiance, Ma has overturned traditional family roles and has become the leader. Steinbeck writes, "She was the power. She had taken control." This incident shows Summary that, for Steinbeck, the main goal is to keep the human community—or in this case, the Joad family—together. The cars of the migrant people, such as the Joads, drive along the main highway. During the night, the cars cluster together Steinbeck also analyzes various aspects of Tom's personality. and the people set up a camp. In these camps, many families Tom wants to maintain a narrow vision, in contrast to Ma. While join together to become one family. The camps are little worlds he removes bearings from the Wilson's car, Casy wonders if with their own rights, unofficial laws, and codes of conduct. there is enough work in California. In response, Tom angrily Leaders emerge to help run the camps. They even have a type states, "Goddamn it! How'd I know" I'm jus' puttin' one foot in of need-based insurance, with those who can do so helping front a the other." This statement recalls the land turtle steadily one another, as with a man who has food feeding another man marching ahead on a determined course. Steinbeck even who lacks it. People build the camps near water and on fairly refers to land turtles as he describes the Joads and Wilson flat land. In the morning, families develop a routine of how to heading across Texas. These families, like thousands of others, break down a camp and where to store items in vehicles. Each are heading down a narrow, determined route. Even when the family member has a role in this process. raggedy man tells Pa about the horrible conditions for migrants in California, the Joads continue to plow ahead to their Men begin to think of themselves not as farmers concerned destination. with crops but as migrants concerned with maintaining their vehicles. In the camps, people forge friendships and discover Steinbeck adds a rationale to Tom's narrow vision. When he relatives. Children from different families play together. The rides in the truck toward the wrecking yard, Al asks him about campers talk about the land getting spoiled, their homes, their prison. After some prodding, Tom admits that the experience tragedies, and the future. "Wonder what it's like out there?"they was pretty bad, calling prison "a way a drivin' a guy slowly ask. A person often plays a guitar and the people gather nuts." To prevent himself from going crazy, Tom learns to around and sing songs. At dawn, people talk about the dangers

that lie ahead, like the desert. In a tent, Ma and Rose of Sharon sit by Granma, who is sick and delirious. Rose of Sharon seems nervous, so Ma comforts her by saying she'll learn to share her hurt with others and then Analysis it won't seem so bad. When a Jehovite woman realizes that Granma is near death, she and other Jehovites hold a prayer In Chapter 17, Steinbeck develops the theme of community by meeting in a nearby tent. Their loud noises make Rose of showing people forming a community as a natural process. It is Sharon even more nervous. Ma and Rose of Sharon try to a process based on need, mutual understanding, and sleep but are disturbed by a policeman, who tells them they sympathy. "They shared their lives, their food, and the things have to leave by tomorrow. Ma gets angry and, holding a skillet, they hoped for." During the setting up of a camp, families join approaches the policeman. He backs off but repeats they have to become one living unit. Such a unit serves the mutual to leave, calling them Okies. advantage of all the members. For example, a sick child becomes the concern of all the families in the camp. Tom tells a stunned Ma that Noah has left. The Joads decide to pack up and leave right away. Ivy Wilson, though, says that For this makeshift community to function well, the migrants he and his wife aren't going because his wife is seriously ill. must ensure that the good of the group is upheld. Because of Casy visits Sairy in her tent and says a silent prayer for her. this, they set up rights, such as "the right of the hungry to be The Joads leave the Wilsons some money and then depart for fed." They create unofficial laws, such as not fouling water the desert. near camp. By looking at the formation of these little worlds, readers get a glimpse into how and why humankind first When the sun starts to set, Tom begins to drive across the formed societies in early history. desert, with Al and Pa seated next to him. The others lie in the back, with Ma lying next to Granma, who seems to be asleep. Steinbeck also presents the reoccurring motif of music in this Rose of Sharon and Connie are anxious to sleep together, and chapter. Guitar playing and singing in the camps stirs the Uncle John talks to Casy about sin. When the Joads stop at an people's souls. All of the people look inward; "their minds [play] inspection station, Ma tells the official that her mother is very in other times, and their sadness [is] like rest." Music, sick and asks if they can go on without an inspection. The therefore, forms a bond between the people, allowing them to Joads swear they don't have any vegetables or seeds, so the share and soothe their suffering. By doing this, music welds official lets them go. After they cross the desert, they enter people into one thing, thereby creating a sense of community, beautiful land with golden grain fields and "dark green patches cooperation, and unity. of oranges." Ma tells the family that Granma died during the trip. Tom is amazed at Ma's strength, sitting next to her dead mother during the night, and decides to go to the coroner and Chapter 18 get Granma buried decently.

Summary Analysis

In this chapter, Steinbeck explores how the strains of migrant The Joad and Wilson families move westward through the life can tear at the fabric of a family. Several people leave the mountains of New Mexico and the dry, rocky country of family circle. Noah decides to stay by the river, afraid of what Arizona. They arrive in California and camp near a river to lies ahead in California. The Wilsons stay behind because of bathe. As they enjoy the cool river water, two men join them. Sairy's illness, which has worsened because she is unable to According to these men, there's no land left in California to get proper medical attention. Granma dies during the crossing claim, and the residents are hostile to the migrants. Also, the of the desert. The hardships of the migrant trip prove too much men mention that residents refer to migrants in a derogatory for Granma and her husband, as they were for many elderly way as "Okies." The Joads and Casy are unfamiliar with this people. This chapter, therefore, acts as a contrast with the term. Tom and Noah rest in the willows, and Noah says he's previous one. In Chapter 19, Steinbeck describes how the staying by the river. Tom tries to talk him out of it, but Noah's migrant journey can draw people together. In this chapter, he mind is set, and he leaves.

shows how this journey can pull people and families apart. their shops, viewing their crops only in term of dollars. Farming has become an industry; the landowners "[farm] on paper; and However, the Joads respond to this challenge with an amazing they [forget] the land." The landowners import workers to flexibility. Sensing the danger to her family, Ma takes on the harvest crops for low wages. When migrant workers are paid, role of leader. In this chapter, she further solidifies this role by they use their wages to buy food from the farm stores, thereby chasing the Jehovite woman away, standing up to the giving the money back to the landowners. policeman, and fooling the inspection official. Later, the family finds out Ma stayed with her dead mother during the night. Forced off their land, thousands of migrants, such as the Steinbeck states, "The family looked at Ma with a little terror at Joads, flock from the Midwest to California in search of work, her strength," amazed at her ability and accepting of her new food, and land. These people are fierce because they familial role. desperately need food to survive. The California residents hate these migrants for various reasons. Owners are afraid they will Also, Tom develops leadership skills in subtle ways. When Ma steal their land, storekeepers know they have no money to seems tired, Tom takes charge and organizes the packing of spend, and laboring people realize they will work cheaply, the truck and the preparation for crossing the desert. Tom, not thereby lowering the overall wage. Al, is the person who drives the truck across the precarious desert. Tom also shows wisdom when he says that his Migrants see the land and food as one. They see acres of land grandparents would never have really seen California, as their lying fallow and are tempted to take a little of it to plant a hearts were back in Oklahoma. Young kids like Ruthie and garden and feed their families. The migrants stay in makeshift Winfield are the ones who can really appreciate California towns called Hoovervilles with "paper houses" and junk piles. because they do not have as strong of a connection to From these bases, they scour the area desperately looking for Oklahoma. Pa replies, "Here's Tommy talkin' like a growed-up work at the big farms. The owners use police to repress the man, talkin' like a preacher almos'." This statement migrants, driving squatters off their land. Police raid the foreshadows the change that happens to Tom later in the Hoovervilles, chasing the migrants out and burning the novel. remaining shacks. The owners increase their repression of the migrants, forming associations for protection and devising Steinbeck also stresses how anger toward authority figures various ways to intimidate the homeless workers. simmers in Tom. In Chapter 16, Tom shows anger toward the camp proprietor. In this chapter, Tom admits he would have probably hit the policeman if he had talked to Tom the way he Analysis talked to Ma. The theme of building wrath will be developed further in upcoming chapters. In Chapter 19, Steinbeck develops the theme of Wrath versus Meekness. In previous chapters, Tom has an underlying anger In addition, Steinbeck develops the music motif. When Casy toward authority figures, which is being prodded on his journey prays silently for Sairy, she thanks him and says, "I wanted to west by bullying police and selfish proprietors. Ma also shows feel that clostness ... singin' an' prayin', jus' the same thing." anger toward people using their authority in an unjust and Music unifies people in a deep, spiritual way. callous manner.

However, in this chapter, Steinbeck continues to expand this Chapter 19 unrest from the Joad family to the migrants in general. Enticed by the promise of good work and pay, thousands of migrants stream to California. When they arrive, they find hostility from Summary the residents and unfair labor practices from the landowners. They are like the Greek mythological figure of Tantalus. As a When California belonged to Mexico, Americans wanted land in punishment for his crimes, Tantalus is doomed to forever have the region and stole it from the Mexicans. Now the a bunch of grapes seemingly within reach, only to have them descendants of the American landowners have lost their pulled away when he tries to pick one. Likewise, plenty hunger for the land. They treat their land like shopkeepers do surrounds the migrants—land with orange trees, walnut trees,

and lettuce. What is even worse, they see acres lying fallow. Meanwhile, Al makes friends with a young man whose name is But they are prohibited from farming this unused land because Floyd. Ma tells the hungry kids to each get a stick to scrape up it is part of a huge farm, and when they try to plant secret the leftovers in the pot. The children obey with a "deadly, silent gardens, they are chased away. This constant temptation swiftness." As the Joads eat their meal from plates, they hear breeds unrest and anger, leading to conflict. For example, "the children digging into the pot." when one squatter is evicted, the squatter's son shoots the policeman with a rifle. The migrants constantly talk about the After the meal, Floyd gives Al and Tom a tip that there is work unfair situation and what to do about it. about 200 miles north. As they talk, trucks come by with disconsolate migrants unable to find work locally. A contractor Steinbeck also explores the dynamic between landowners and arrives in a shiny Chevrolet. Tom, Casy, Floyd, and others migrants. When the migrants arrive in California, they find gather around. The contractor tells the migrants that he is themselves in a torturous push-pull situation. The owners and hiring workers for a job up north. Floyd insists that the other residents are antagonistic toward migrants because they contractor show a license proving he is allowed to hire fear that the migrants will steal from them. However, the workers. The contractor gets angry. A deputy sheriff tries to owners also want to exploit migrant labor. Both antagonism arrest Floyd, but he punches the sheriff and runs away. The and exploitation breed discontent and wrath among the sheriff shoots at Floyd and then runs after him. Tom trips the migrants. In this way, the author uses the relations between sheriff, and Casy kicks him, knocking the man unconscious. landowners and migrants to develop the theme of Wrath The contractor drives away. Casy says he'll take the rap and versus Meekness. tells Tom to hide. Tom reluctantly does so. Soon the police arrive and arrest Casy. Chapter 20 Upset about Casy getting arrested, Uncle John goes to a nearby store and buys liquor to get drunk. Al and Tom notice Connie walking away from the camp. Floyd tells Tom and Al that he expects people from town to come tonight and burn Summary out the Hooverville. Tom tells his family about this and says they have to leave now. As they hurriedly load the truck, Tom The Joads arrange with a coroner to have Granma buried. finds Uncle John drunk. He knocks him unconscious and They are ashamed about not being able to have a proper carries him to the truck. Rose of Sharon wants to stay and wait funeral, but they can't afford it. The Joads drive into a for Connie, but her family convinces her to leave. The Joads Hooverville to set up camp. The makeshift settlement is filthy drive out of the Hooverville and meet a mob on the road. When and dilapidated. As Pa and Uncle John unload the truck, Tom Tom pretends he wants to go north for work, the mob tells him talks to a young man who is working on his car. The young man he's headed in the wrong direction. Tom turns the truck explains that too many people are looking for work, which around, heads north, and then pulls off on a side road and allows owners to pay less. Also, after the owners use the waits. He sees flames coming from the Hooverville and hears workers, they don't want the workers hanging around. Tom screams. Tom then drives south toward the government camp. gets angry about this system and says something should be done about it. The young man says that migrants who make trouble are blacklisted. Analysis Ma starts to cook dinner. Casy tells Tom that a restlessness is In Chapter 20, Steinbeck further develops the themes of building in the migrant people. Tom senses an uneasiness in Selfishness versus Kindness and Meekness versus Wrath. The the Hooverville that seems about to bust loose. Connie selfishness of the landowners places the migrants in a trap. complains to Rose of Sharon about the rundown living Floyd explains the system to Tom. Owners might have 3,000 conditions. She gets worried that her husband might not live up jobs available but attract 6,000 starving workers. This enables to his promises to get a good job. Hungry children from the the owner to pay a low wage, like 15 cents an hour. The camp stare at Ma as she cooks stew. A girl mentions that there workers will fight for this work because they are desperate. is a government camp nearby that is supposed to be nice. Once the work is done, the owner chases them away, using the

police to break up Hoovervilles. Tom says, "That's stinkin." The has decided he doesn't want to deal with the difficulties of author shows how this trap has a negative effect on specific migrant life and figures he might do better on his own. Also, families in the Hooverville. For example, a bearded man is Casy is arrested and taken away, thereby leaving the family disoriented and perhaps insane because he and his family have circle. The strain of migrant life continues to pull the family been pushed around so much by police telling him to move. apart. When Tom asks about him, Floyd replies, "He's jus' nuts like you an' me." Also, Steinbeck invites the reader to make an ironic comparison. In Chapter 17, the author describes how law is The selfishness of the landowners has created a system that used in the makeshift communities. In this chapter, he benefits them but is contradictory for the migrants. If a person describes how law is used in the Hoovervilles. With the gets caught up in it long enough, it can make him or her crazy. makeshift communities, migrants make up rules and codes of When the bearded man finds out that the Hooverville is going conduct that are needed for these communities to function. to be burned, he decides to stay. He asks Pa if his family is These unofficial laws work well, serving the mutual good. In going to leave any stuff. Pa says no and asks why the man is contrast, in the Hoovervilles, contractors and owners use staying. The man, who has "bewildered eyes," can give no police to intimidate and harass the migrants. These actions are explanation. The man has come to accept the insanity, even done under the guise of maintaining "law and order" for the though he and his family could be killed. Also, this good of the community. In reality, the police are used to contradictory system breeds wrath. The system has brought support the power structure of the owners by repressing the Floyd to the end of his rope. He is agitated and angry, causing migrants. Thus, the laws of the makeshift communities are fair him to lash out at the policeman. and effective, while the laws and their enforcement in the Hoovervilles are neither of these things. Steinbeck develops Tom's character by showing that he is becoming a leader. When Floyd explains the system, Tom says migrants should unite and fight it. His immediate reaction, Chapter 21 which reflects his developing leadership potential, is a good idea that could be effective. Later, he decides that the family is going to the government camp, another leadership decision. In addition, Tom responds to the unfair system and the people Summary who support it with defiance and anger. He trips the deputy The main highways are flooded with migrants like the Joads. sheriff when he begins to chase Floyd. However, Tom still has Once simple agrarian folk, these people change when they a tendency to let his anger get out of control. When the mob become migrants. Because of their fear, hunger, and lack of stops the Joad truck, Tom comes close to attacking them. work, the migrants become hostile. The local people who are Also, Steinbeck begins to show Jim Casy as a Christ figure. In not hungry are terrified of these migrants. The local people tell earlier chapters, Casy is depicted as an unusual preacher who themselves they are good and the invading migrants are bad. wants to help common people by uniting them and empathizing Migrants are dirty, ignorant, and degenerate. The local people with their suffering. In Chapter 20, Casy shows that he is arm themselves with clubs, gas, and guns. willing to help people to the point of sacrificing himself to The migrants work for low wages and then even lower wages authority figures. Therefore, like Christ, Casy establishes a and then for scraps of food. This makes the owners glad radical mission, which involves unifying and motivating people, because it keeps wages down and prices up. Owners build experiencing their hardships, and sacrificing himself. Steinbeck canneries and buy their own fruit at a low price, allowing them underscores Casy's connection to Christ by having them share to make a profit on selling canned goods. The small farmers the same initials. who don't own canneries can't compete and go out of In addition, Steinbeck continues to show the breakup of the business. Soon they join the migrants on the roads. Hungry Joad family. Connie seems distraught about the harshness of migrants search for work, surrounded by fruitful fields and full life out in California. It's not what he expected. Then Tom and granaries. Soon their hunger turns to anger and their anger Al notice Connie walking away from the camp. Perhaps Connie ferments.

Analysis night. Meanwhile, the rest of the Joad family wakes up. Ma learns that the Ladies' Committee is coming to visit. Anxious to show give a good impression, she orders Rose of Sharon to Steinbeck explores the growing anger of the migrants, mainly put on a nice dress and for Pa to clean Ruthie and Winfield. As by focusing on the reasons for it. The narrator refers to anger Ma hurriedly cooks breakfast, the friendly camp manager visits only a couple of times in the chapter. First, he describes how her. After breakfast, Pa, Uncle John, and Al get in the truck and hostility welds the migrants together. Then, at the end of the head out to look for work. chapter, he discusses the thin line between hunger and anger. However, he describes in detail the various causes for anger, Ma goes to the showers to wash herself. When she is gone, a such as being forced off land, facing hostile local people, and female religious fanatic talks to Rose of Sharon about all the dealing with the cruel wages and constant hunger. Most sin in the camp. She terrifies Rose of Sharon by telling her that people realize that such circumstances would make a person she'll have a miscarriage if she sins. After the woman leaves, angry. Indeed, circumstances such as these have made the Rose of Sharon tells Ma what the fanatic said. Ma orders her Joads angry. Steinbeck, therefore, invites the reader to put daughter to "stop pickin' at yourself." The Ladies' Committee themselves in the place of the migrants, including the Joad visits and gives Ma a tour of the camp, explaining various family. By the chapter's end, when the author describes how regulations. Ma is impressed by the niceness of the ladies and the migrants' anger begins to ferment, the reader fully the camp. understands why this is happening and identifies with it. This method harkens back to Chapter 14, where Steinbeck Ruthie and Winfield see children playing croquet. Ruthie wants discusses the difference between causes and results and how to play immediately, but the children tell her she has to wait landowners always focus on results. Obviously, for Steinbeck, until the game is over. Ruthie refuses and selfishly grabs a the causes are of primary importance and therefore need to be mallet. The children all back away, including Winfield, and understood to fully comprehend the plight of the Joad family watch Ruthie as she tries to entertain herself hitting the and of migrants in general. croquet ball. Soon Ruthie feels uncomfortable and tells the other kids to play. The group just looks at her. Ruthie flings down the mallet and runs home crying. Chapter 22 Unable to find work, the dejected men drive back to camp. Ma confronts the religious fanatic and tells her to leave her family alone, causing the woman to have a hysterical fit. After the Summary fanatic is carried away, Ma tries to comfort Rose of Sharon about her fear of having a miscarriage. Rose of Sharon, though, During the night, Tom drives the Joad truck into the remains terrified by what the fanatic told her. Pa tells Ma that government camp, which is called the Weedpatch. The he couldn't find work, which worries Ma and makes her sad. watchman tells the Joads that the camp has an empty unit, so They talk about the family breaking up and try to find comfort they can stay. After Tom parks the truck, Tom and Pa sign up by reminiscing about the home they left. at the office. The watchman tells Tom that the police are not allowed in this camp without a warrant. As Tom walks to his family's unit, he notices that the camp looks neat and clean. Analysis

Early the next morning, Tom wakes up before the rest of his In this chapter, Steinbeck focuses on the theme of the human family and makes friends with the family next door. They offer community through the specific example of the Weedpatch Tom breakfast, and the father and son ask if Tom wants to camp. This camp is a self-contained community. Like the work with them. Tom eagerly accepts. Tom and his two friends, makeshift communities along the roadside, the camp governs Timothy and Wilkie, walk to their job, which involves laying pipe. itself, making its own regulations. The watchman states, The boss tells them he has to lower their wages because the "Central Committee keeps order an' makes rules." The people association he belongs to has told him to. The men reluctantly in the camp elect the committee members. People who can't agree to work for 25 cents an hour. Also, the boss warns that afford to pay the camp fee are allowed to "work it out." The deputies are planning to bust up the camp's dance on Saturday

camp even sponsors dances on Saturday nights. Cops are not causes Ma to think more about getting a home. "Soon's we allowed in the camp without a warrant. can," she says, "I want a little house." Near the end of the chapter, she remembers what it was like back at the home they Through cooperation and unity, the self-contained community left and feels sad when she reflects on the fact that "it ain't our works very well. Ironically, living conditions are better and more home no more." She adds, "Wisht I'd forget it," but she can't. orderly for migrants without the interference of the police and established society. The principle of the mutual good is used as a guide for the camp. For example, when Ruthie wants to Chapter 23 play croquet immediately, the children use the pressure of the group to show Ruthie how selfish she is acting. The unity of the community and the mutual good of the group are used to govern. Summary

As the Ruthie example shows, selfishness can pose a threat to The migrant people hunger for amusement. In the camps along the community. However, unlike the children playing croquet, the road, they gather around storytellers, who weave heartfelt the selfishness of the landowners is more difficult to overcome. tales. If migrants have the money, they go to movies. Tom and his friends are faced with an example of this when Afterward, they talk to other migrants about the amazing their boss tells them he has to lower their wage. stories they saw on-screen. Migrants sometimes get drunk and daydream about old times. They play musical instruments like However, in this chapter, Steinbeck introduces another threat the harmonica, which is easy to carry. Some play the guitar, to the community, namely religious fanaticism. The religious which requires time to learn. Guitars are passed on from father fanatic, Lisbeth Sandry, scares Rose of Sharon half to death to son and are often played in the evening. A few play the when she warns her about having a miscarriage if she sins. fiddle, which is difficult to learn. Sometimes migrants form Through the depiction of Lisbeth, Steinbeck shows how she small bands, and people square dance energetically to the tries to stir up trouble within the camp, pitting the holy people music. Also, preachers provide entertainment by holding lively against the sinners. Also, the author hints that religious meetings where people "[grovel] and [whine] on the ground." fanaticism is used to keep the migrants under control. Lisbeth Then the preacher throws people into water and prays over tells the camp manager that two migrant women lost their them. And the people go home, convinced that they are saved. babies because of their sins. The manager counters that malnutrition caused the miscarriages. Later, Lisbeth quotes her preacher in saying, "They's wicketness in this camp. ... The Analysis poor tryin' to be rich." Religious fanatics thus attempt to control the migrants by having them blame themselves for their For Steinbeck, amusements not only entertain migrants, but misfortunes and by telling them that they should remain in their also serve as a shared experience. Groups listen intently to place and stay poor. stories, and all the listeners "[become] great through them." A man might go to a movie by himself, but he always shares what Near the end of the chapter, Steinbeck indicates that staying he saw with his fellow migrants. The migrants often play music at the Weedpatch is based on whether it's members can find together in bands. People listen and then spontaneously work. During their first day, Pa has difficulty getting square dance. A Texas boy and Cherokee girl dance until they employment. This situation may continue. The safety and pant but keep on going. Also, the prayer meetings are shared comfort of this community, therefore, are precarious and can entertainment in which preachers compel people to "grovel easily evaporate if the members have to leave because they and whine" and be cleansed in the water together. Getting can't earn money. Ma says they could be happy at the drunk is the only amusement that Steinbeck depicts as solitary. Weedpatch camp, and Pa replies, "If we could get work." Only then can a person be alone to imagine his or her wishes being fulfilled and think of better times. So far in the novel, Steinbeck has focused on the migrants searching for work and food. In this chapter, the author In this chapter, Steinbeck continues to develop the motif of stresses that they are also searching for something more, music as the heart and soul of the people. A person can easily namely a home. The niceness of the camp and its people

carry a harmonica, allowing him or her to express feelings at Huston asks the three who hired them. They don't respond. any moment. A son plays guitar for his father, forming a bond Then the committee makes the three men climb over the between them. The Texas boy and Cherokee girl dancing to fence. Pa talks to men at the office about forming a union. music leads to them to go out together in the moonlight. Analysis Chapter 24 In Chapter 24, Steinbeck illustrates how the community can work together to handle a difficult situation. The Central Summary Committee knows that deputies are coming to break up the dance. In response, the committee uses the power of the community to prevent the incident. Some community members On Saturday morning at the Weedpatch, the community patrol the fence looking for people sneaking in, while others try prepares for the party. Everyone bathes and puts on their best to spot troublemakers among the guests. Still others keep an clothes. The Central Committee is concerned about the eye on people by the dance floor. Although everything is possibility of deputies trying to bust up the dance. The coordinated like clockwork, three men try to start a fight; again, committee head, Ezra Huston, asks Willie Eaton about the the power of the group is used to squelch it. Twenty committee entertainment committee. Willie says he has 20 men in the men hem in the troublemakers, preventing them from throwing committee. They'll make sure there isn't any trouble. Ezra a punch. Also, the committee men place hands over the emphasizes that he doesn't want any violence. Willie says they mouths of the three men, gagging them. The troublemakers don't have to use violence. are then escorted out of the camp without the use of violence. The Central Committee talks about why the landowners hate Again, Steinbeck offers an ironic comparison. The migrants, the government camps. The owners are afraid that the who are supposedly ignorant and unruly, work together to migrants will get used to having things nice and will start to peacefully handle a potentially violent situation. In contrast, the demand better working conditions. People start to gather deputies, who represent official law and order, want to create a around the dance floor. Soon, guests in cars arrive. After riot. To prevent this, the migrants have to stop the supposed dinner, Al dresses in a suit and flirts with a girl. Tom says he peacemakers from disturbing the peace. This comparison has joined the entertainment committee. Rose of Sharon contributes to the theme of Individual versus Community by misses Connie and says she's not going to the dance. Ma showing that common people naturally want to form a soothes her and convinces her to attend. Pa and Uncle John harmonious community and are able to do so despite the talk to men at the office about how the wages keep getting disruptive influence of outside forces. lower. They are all perplexed about what to do about it.

Although this chapter shows the Joads and other people Tom and a Cherokee named Jule Vitela look over the guests as enjoying the dance, Steinbeck conveys a sense of insecurity they arrive and try to pick out troublemakers. Jule spots three about the festivities. He does this in two ways. First, he shows suspicious guys. Tom goes to the dance floor and tells Willie to that a potentially disruptive situation could happen at the keep an eye on the three men. The first dance takes place dance. In addition, he intersperses descriptions of the dance without any problems. However, just before the second dance, proceedings with Pa talking to men about the lowering wages the three men enter the dance floor and start to pick a fight. and how to handle this problem. One of the men describes how Twenty men from the entertainment committee, including Tom, workers in Ohio formed a union. Storekeepers and others tried hem in the three troublemakers. A shrill whistle is heard. The to break it up, but the workers went into town and had a committee escorts the three men off the dance floor. "turkey shoot." This display of violence quieted the people who Meanwhile, deputies approach the entrance and claim there is were protesting the union. The man at the Weedpatch camp a riot going on at the dance. The camp men say there is no riot. wonders if the migrants should use similar tactics. Although the All that is heard is the music and people having fun. The Joads and other migrants are enjoying the dance, they know deputies back off and wait. Tom and other committee that they will be facing more hardships and might need to unite members bring the three troublemakers to the back fence. in force to face them.

harvests. Although these harvests are plentiful, there is also Chapter 25 great waste. For example, tons of pears are "yellow and soft," but many of them fall to the ground where they "ferment and rot." The ones that are picked are bought cheap and sent to Summary canneries owned by the big landowners. Then the author reveals that hungry people are not allowed to eat the leftover The spring in California is beautiful and fruitful. "Petals drops crop because doing this would lower the price of produce. from fruit trees. ... The centers of the blossoms swell and grow Steinbeck describes this situation as "a crime ... that goes and color." Scientists develop ways to produce more crops by beyond denunciation." People who are starving have to watch devising disease-resistant roots. They produce sprays that food being destroyed. The great people of science are actually protect trees against pests. They graft young trees and little pawns in the service of the landowners and banks. These vines. Men use their knowledge to produce plentiful, improved scientists use their knowledge to increase profit, knowing the crops, including more productive wheat, sweeter apples, and waste will happen. more varieties of grape. The cherries ripen first, and much of the fruit is wasted. Then the prunes ripen, and many carpet the Meanwhile, the small farmers cannot sell their crops because ground and rot. After this, pears are harvested and many also of the competition from the big farms. Soon, banks will own the rot on the ground. Grapes are used to make poor wine, which little orchards, which connects back to the Bank monster has "no grape flavor at all, just sulphur and tannic acid and described in Chapter 5. Like the Bank monster in Oklahoma, alcohol." devouring the tenant farmer's land to gain more profit, the large landowners and the banks in California devour the little However, small farms are choked with debt, and soon their orchards to gain more profit. orchards will become part of big farms. Much of this plentiful harvest is destroyed to keep up the price. Oranges are At the end of the chapter, Steinbeck explores a major symbol dumped on the ground and sprayed with kerosene. A million of the novel—the grapes of wrath. As the big farmers produce hungry people like the Joads need this fruit. Potatoes are and harvest huge crops, which involves destroying large dumped in rivers and are guarded to prevent hungry people portions of it, a symbolic crop grows within the souls of the from "fishing them out." Pigs are slaughtered and buried. hungry people who watch this waste. This crop consists of Children die of malnutrition because prices must stay up. As hatred at the injustice and cruelty of the landowners and their hungry people watch the food being wasted, they have a system. The crop is the grapes of wrath, which are "growing growing wrath. The narrator then invokes the symbol in the heavy for the vintage." novel's title: "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy." Chapter 26 Analysis Summary In Chapter 25, Steinbeck moves from beauty and plenty to destruction, waste, and crimes against humanity. This process At the Weedpatch camp, Ma leads a family meeting in which is caused by the selfishness of the big landowners, who single- family members talk about the lack of work and running out of mindedly seek more and more profits. The first paragraphs of money and food. The family decides to leave the camp to the chapter have lovely descriptions, such as "full green hills search for work. Rose of Sharon tells Ma she's worried about are round and soft as breasts" and "petals ... carpet the earth not getting enough milk for the baby she's carrying. Ma pierces with pink and white." At first, scientists who develop new, her ears to mollify her. Al says good-bye to a blonde-haired girl disease-resistant crops seem like wonder workers who will with promises of coming back and marrying her. Uncle John benefit humankind; they are seen as "great men." and Pa say good-bye to Huston, and Tom says good-bye to Willie and Jule. However, this beauty turns into horror. Steinbeck begins to explain this transformation with his descriptions of the fruit The next morning, the Joads head in their truck out of the

camp and onto Highway 99 and drive north. Soon they get a brush until his face is healed, at which point he'll rejoin his flat tire. While fixing it, a well-dressed man pulls up in a family. The Joads agree with the plan, and Tom disappears into roadster and asks the Joads if they want work. Tom says they the night. sure do and agrees to picking peaches. The Joads fix the tire and drive to Hooper Ranch. As they approach, they notice a roadblock and numerous police. A patrolman makes sure the Analysis Joads want to work and then tells them to follow cops on motorcycles to the ranch. They pass by a bunch of angry men In Chapter 26, Steinbeck relates the three major themes of the yelling and shaking their fists. The situation makes the Joads novel: Individual versus Community, Selfishness versus uneasy. Kindness, and Meekness versus Wrath. Throughout the chapter, various elements threaten to break apart the At the ranch, the Joads are assigned one of many basic community of the Joad family. Al keeps threatening to the shacks, where "the floor [is] splashed with grease." The shack leave the family and gets a job as a mechanic. Rose of Sharon contains a rusty stove and nothing else. The men start picking becomes panicky because she's not getting enough nutrition peaches for five cents a box. They have to pick slowly to make for the baby she's carrying. As a result, she yells at Tom for sure they don't bruise the fruit. Later, Ma and Ruthie and killing the cop and says that his sin is going to ruin her Winfield help out. When they earn a dollar of credit, Ma heads pregnancy. Her attitude threatens to push Tom away from the to the company store. The prices for food are high. She spends family. In addition, Tom knows the police will be looking for him the entire dollar credit on food for dinner. The Joads eat a and doesn't want to bring trouble to his family, so he plans to skimpy dinner. Tom says he's going to find out what's going on leave. To counteract these forces pulling at the family, Ma with those angry men they passed by. further solidifies her role as the family leader. At the beginning of the chapter, she yells at her husband and the other men for During the night, Tom sneaks out of the ranch and approaches not finding work and says they have to do something. Pa a tent with a light at the bottom of a ravine. There Tom reunites remarks, "Seems like women is tellin' now." Later, she with Casy and learns that he is leading a strike against Hooper organizes the Joad's getaway from the Hooper ranch, with ranch. The ranch owner has been offering five cents for a box Tom hiding in the back of the truck. Despite the dangerous of peaches, but when he gets enough workers, he lowers the situation, the family stays together. price to two-and-a-half cents, and "a fella can't even eat on that." The police, using flashlights, raid the camp of strikers. A Also, Steinbeck shows how kindness is used to keep the Joad man hits Casy with a pick handle, smashing in his head. Casay family together. When Rose of Sharon gets upset about her lies on the ground, lifeless. Enraged, Tom grabs the pick handle pregnancy, Ma makes her feel special by piercing her ears. away from the man and hits him hard with it. The man falls This attention seems to calm her. When Winfield gets the unconscious to the ground. Mayhem ensues. As police chase skitters, Ma makes sure he gets the milk he needs to calm his strikers, Tom is hit in the head by a club. Injured, he runs back intestines. And when she finds out that Tom killed a man, she to the ranch and enters the hut where the Joads are living. does not scold him and instead offers understanding. Everyone is asleep. On a larger scale, Steinbeck analyzes the dynamics of The next morning, the Joads find Tom with a bloody and community with the strikers who have formed a protest against bruised face. Tom tells them what happened. Ma decides the Hooper ranch. Selfishness threatens these strikers. However, family has to move away. News spreads in the ranch about a this selfishness does not only apply to the ranch owner cutting policeman being killed during a raid the previous night. Tom wages and using police to break up the strike; it also applies to says he has to leave the family because the police will be the migrants themselves. When Tom visits Casy in the tent, looking for him. Ma disagrees and decides to hide Tom in the Tom says that at least his family is getting work and has eaten truck. The Joads load up the truck with Tom hidden in back dinner tonight. Because of this, he says, Pa will not likely agree between two mattresses. With Al driving the truck, the Joads to join the strikers. Casy replies, "I guess that' right. Have to get out of the ranch and head north on side roads. They stop take a beatin' 'fore he'll know." by a sign that says "Cotton Pickers Wanted." Tom tells his family to get work picking cotton. Meanwhile, he'll hide in the Once again, kindness can overcome the need to look out for

one's self no matter how that affects others. This idea is shown clearly when Ma buys food at the company store. She is upset Chapter 27 by the unreasonably high prices for food. At first, the store clerk is defensive. When Ma asks him how he likes working at a job that cheats people, he replies, "A fella got to eat." Later, Summary though, when she asks for a little sugar to be paid for later, the clerk pays the dime for the sugar himself. He says that she can Placards and handbills advertise for cotton pickers. Workers pay him back. Ma thanks him and reflects, "If you're in trouble like the Joads must buy a bag for a dollar to put the picked or hurt or need—go to poor people." For Steinbeck, kindness cotton in. Workers have their filled bags weighed by the scale and sympathy between poor people is the glue that can bind man. The scales are sometimes crooked. To counteract this, them together to fight against oppression. the workers sometimes fill their bags with rocks. More migrants arrive and set up cotton camps. Cotton fluff clings to Anger is another element that unites the human community fences, rolls into little balls on the road, and gets in people's and spurs it into action. Ma comments on this in reference to noses. The workers don't get paid much and try to save her husband. She says that a man can worry and worry about enough for winter. More and more people arrive, and workers things, but "if you can take an' make 'im mad ... he'll be awright." start fighting for rows to pick. The cotton farms keep Later, the migrants get angry enough to join together and go advertising for more workers. on strike. Tom sees the strikers by the side of road and notices "their shaking fists and furious faces." Also, Tom gets enraged at the man who killed Casy and clubs him to death. This Analysis expression of anger can be seen as a negative action. Tom has not yet learned to harness his fury, so he lashes out. His action Steinbeck depicts cotton picking in California as adequate upsets the powers that be but isn't used for the common good. work, but just barely. Although the work is hard, many migrants In contrast, Steinbeck strengthens Casy as a Christ figure by seem to view it as decent work. Pickers might earn enough to having him give up his life for the good of the human buy a cheap cut of meat. On the downside, workers have to community, thereby making a selfless sacrifice. deal with crooked scales. This work is probably the best that the migrants can hope for. Nonetheless, Steinbeck shows that Steinbeck also shows that when the migrants practice cotton picking is not sufficient, because the work often does meekness, they become pawns in the hands of the powerful not last long and workers probably will not earn enough to landowners. Because of their need for food, migrants flock into save for winter. Cotton pickers are lulled into a false sense of Hooper ranch, which allows the owner to cut wages and make security because the work is just enough to afford them more profit. Meekness preserves the unfair status quo and decent meals. inhibits change that will benefit the majority.

Finally, in Chapter 26, Steinbeck emphasizes how the Joads and other migrants are caught in a repetitive pattern. Once Chapter 28 again they have difficulty finding steady work, have conflicts with authority figures, are exploited by landowners, and are forced to move. Such was the case in Oklahoma and in parts Summary of California during this era. Because of this, themes keep repeating themselves, namely the selfishness of landowners Some cotton pickers in California live in boxcars, with two versus the kindness of common people, the needs of the families in each car. The Joads live in one end of a boxcar. individual versus the needs of the community, and how Soon all the boxcars are filled; latecomers live in tents. The constant exploitation can lead to outbursts of wrath. Joads buy goods at a nearby store. They have gotten paid enough to buy pork chops and milk for Rose of Sharon but worry about saving enough for winter. Ma buys Ruthie and Winfield each a box of Cracker Jack. Back at the boxcar, Winfield tells Ma that Ruthie got in a fight with other kids and,

in anger, told about Tom killing two men and hiding out. Ma important insights. For example, Casy gained understanding tells Pa about this and then brings food to Tom in the willows. when he spent time in jail. In fact, Casy compares this experience to "goin' into the wilderness like Jesus to try find Tom takes the food and brings Ma to a dark cave. There, Ma out sompin." Tom hiding in the cave is his wilderness lets Tom know that Ruthie told the secret. He seems amused. experience, bringing him to an important realization. They agree that Tom has to leave. Tom has been doing a lot of thinking about Casy while hiding out. He has come to Tom understands that each person is part of one big soul, like understand what Casy meant when he was talking about Casy said. Although the wilderness can be helpful, a person people all being part of one big soul. Ma fears that she'll lose should not stay there, because it cuts him off from other touch with Tom, which causes Tom to consoles her by saying people. He realizes two or more people working together will that he'll be with her through other people. They say good-bye. be stronger and more effective. Tom becomes inspired to help people join together and improve their lives. He then consoles As Ma walks back to camp, a man offers her and her family his mother by telling her, "Wherever they's a fight so hungry work picking cotton at a little farm, which she accepts. The people can eat, I'll be there." He goes on to give a now famous Joads share their boxcar with the Wainwright family. Mr. speech that sums up Steinbeck's view of humanity. For Wainwright tells Ma that because Al and his daughter, Aggie, Steinbeck, people are all united spiritually. What harms one have been going out together, he would like them to get person harms others. "Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, married. Ma tells Pa and Uncle John that Tom is leaving. Then I'll be there," Tom continues. And what helps one person, helps Al says he wants to marry Aggie and leave the family to work others, as Tom says in a more hopeful vow: "I'll be in the way as a mechanic. Ma thinks Al's plans are fine but tells him not to kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready." leave yet. Early the next morning, the Joads and Wainwrights head in the Joad truck toward the small cotton farm. Rose of The human community also has an essential relationship with Sharon says she's going to pick cotton as well, despite her the land, a view Tom expresses with the words, "An' when our mother's reservations. When they arrive at the farm, the folks eat the stuff they raise ... why, I'll be there." Selfish actions parking lot is already filled with migrants in vehicles waiting to by landowners, such as mass farming techniques, cut people go to work. Because of the many workers, the cotton is picked off from the land. However, when people in family communities by 11 a.m. As the Joads drive back to camp, rain starts to fall. work the land, they form a more organic relationship with it. Rose of Sharon gets the chills. By the time they reach the Thus, for Steinbeck, people and their environment are boxcar, the rain is pouring. Ma and Mrs. Wainwright start a fire interconnected. Because of this, people should treat these and try to warm up Rose of Sharon. The men gather more relationships in a loving manner for the benefit of all. firewood. The rain continues to pour on the roofs of the boxcars. Also, in Chapter 28, Steinbeck continues to emphasize Ma's combination of tough leadership and kindness to keep the family together. The author implies that women, in way, are Analysis better suited for leading people through hardships. Ma reflects, "Woman, it's all one flow, like a stream." Because of this trait, In Chapter 28, Steinbeck completes Tom's character women can help humankind to persevere. "Jus' try to live the development. Early in the novel, Tom starts out as an outsider day, jus' the day." This sentiment by Ma harkens back to the who gets angry when pushed around. He doesn't like to think symbol of the land turtle. The turtle has a narrow view as it about affairs beyond his immediate day-to-day activities. plods along on its steady path. Some people, like Casy and However, through his friendship with Casy, Tom is exposed to Tom, think beyond this path and try to find ways to help questions about why things are the way they are. At first, this humankind. However, others, like Ma, have a gift for focusing annoys Tom. However, gradually, Tom begins to realize the on daily events, which allows them to continue on. This focus unfairness of the landowning system. He also starts to use his can act like a hard shell, protecting them and their loved ones leadership skills with his family. After Casy dies, Tom hides out. as they steadily head down the path, one step at a time. The time alone allows Tom to think more fully about Casy's ideas. For Steinbeck, spending time in seclusion enables a person to gather his or her thoughts and, thereby, gain

gather together and "the fear [goes] from their faces, and Chapter 29 anger [takes] its place." By forming a community, the men get in touch with their wrath. As a result, their women are relieved, because "the break would never come as long as fear could Summary turn to wrath." Steinbeck ends the chapter by describing grass coming through the earth—a symbol of hope. The gray clouds march in and settle low, and then the rain comes. At first, the dry earth absorbs the moisture, but then puddles form. Streams overflow uprooting trees, fields flood Chapter 30 forming lakes, and highways wash out, bogging down cars. At first, the migrants hope the rains won't last. The men build makeshift dikes to protect their tents, but the dikes wash out Summary and water soaks into beds and blankets. When the migrants try to move, their cars get stuck in the mud. People wade through A rainstorm hits the boxcar camp and continues for three days. the water, carrying children. The migrants try to get relief from The Joads and Wainwrights argue about whether to move the government, but they don't qualify because they haven't away from the boxcars. Pa wants to stay and build a bank to lived in California for a year. Because of the unsanitary prevent a nearby stream from overflowing. Al claims he's conditions, diseases spread through the migrant camps. staying with Aggie no matter what. Rose of Sharon goes into

The migrants know there will be no work for at least three labor. Pa and other men in the camp start to build up an months. They begin to beg for food. The pity of townspeople embankment. Ma and Mrs. Wainwright help Rose of Sharon, for the migrants changes to anger and then to fear. The police walking her between the pains. The men furiously keep building swear in deputies and try to control the starving people. the bank higher and higher. They become exhausted and Women "pant[ing] with pneumonia" give birth to babies. Frantic continue to work. A cottonwood tree is uprooted, flows down men steal chickens, and some are shot in the process. The rain the stream, and breaks the embankment. Water floods through stops. The migrant men are silent, troubled by the fact that the break into the boxcar camp. there is "no work till spring." The women fear that their men will Al tries to start the truck, but it won't catch. Pa asks about break. But they see their men get angry and are relieved. Rose of Sharon, who is sleeping. Mrs. Wainwright shows Pa a "blue shriveled little mummy" in an apple box, which is Rose of Analysis Sharon's stillborn infant. The rain lets up, but the water keeps rising, causing the Joads to hurriedly build platforms in the boxcar. If needed, the Joads will place belongings on the Steinbeck returns to the theme of anger being used as a platforms to keep them dry. Uncle John carries the stillborn weapon against oppression. The author conveys the various corpse in the apple box to a stream, sets it in the water, and disasters that migrants face because of the flooding. In these watches the box float down the stream. The water rises close descriptions, Steinbeck intersperses statements about the to the floor of the boxcar. Rose of Sharon wakes up and Ma building anger of the migrants. For example, after begging for tells her, "You can have more." The rain starts again. The Joads food, "a hopeless anger began to smolder" in the migrants. place possessions on the platforms as water starts to enter When the migrants huddle in sheds, lying in wet hay, "fear the boxcar. [breeds] anger." The migrants' anger is counterbalanced by the anger of the townspeople, who fear being overwhelmed by The Joads are huddled on the platforms with their belongings. frantic, starving people. Deputies are deployed with rifles and Even though the rain has become intermittent, the water is six tear gas to control the migrants. However, after a rabble of inches deep in the boxcar. Ma and Rose of Sharon decide to migrants is suppressed, the townspeople can most likely take leave the boxcar with Ruthie and Winfield and head for higher solace in the comfort of their homes. The migrants, though, ground. The men at first resist but then decide to go along, have nothing to give them solace. When the rains stop, they except for Al, who stays with Aggie. Pa carries Rose of Sharon, are still hungry and have no work. The migrant women fear that Uncle John carries Ruthie, and Ma carries Winfield as they this desperate situation will break their men. However, the men

wade through the water to the highway. The family then desperate situation, Steinbeck also indicates that the cycle of trudges toward a barn on a hill. As the rain starts to pour again, misery that the Joads and other migrants face continues on. the Joads enter the barn. Soon Winfield spots a boy and man in the corner. The boy says that the man is his father and that Steinbeck also uses a major symbol in this chapter. When he's starving. An understanding passes between Ma and Rose Uncle John places the stillborn infant in the apple box, the of Sharon about what needs to be done. Ma helps Rose of author is making a reference to the biblical story of the infant Sharon take off her wet clothes and wraps a blanket around Moses being cast off in a papyrus basket in a river. In The her. The family and boy leave Rose of Sharon alone with the Grapes of Wrath, the dead infant in the apple box shows the starving man. She lays down beside him and starts to hardships and horror that the migrants are dealing with. Uncle breastfeed the man. The novel closes with the words, "She John tells the dead baby in the apple box to "go down in the looked up across the barn, and her lips came together and street an' rot an' tell 'em that way." He wants it to be a sign to smiled mysteriously." the townspeople that he hopes will bring mercy and rescue for his family and their fellow migrants.

Analysis g Quotes In the final chapter, Steinbeck depicts the hardships for the Joad family and how this leads to the forming of a larger community of humanity in the face of ongoing trouble and "Women ... knew ... no misfortune endless tragedy. This process is achieved through the was too great to bear if their men kindness and caring of people for one another. When Rose of Sharon has labor pains, Mrs. Wainwright assists in delivery as if were whole." Rose of Sharon is a part of her own family. After the birth, Ma thanks Mrs. Wainwright. She replies that there is no need to — Narrator, Chapter 1 thank her, as "ever'body's in the same wagon." Ma acknowledges her agreement, saying, "Use'ta be the fambly was fust. It ain't so now. It's anybody." As things get worse for The narrator addresses the theme of individual versus the migrants, they help one another more. community by emphasizing the mutual dependence of family members. Despite the difficulties, the men are not broken. The process of forming the larger community of humanity Women draw reassurance in seeing that the men who lead happens even when the Joad family breaks up. When the their families are strong and ready to face the challenges that Joads finally evacuate the boxcar, the Wainwrights stay come. behind, and Al stays with them. The Joad family now consists only of Pa, Ma, Uncle John, Rose of Sharon, Ruthie, and Winfield. During the story, Grampa, Granma, Noah, the Wilsons, "But for your three dollars a day Connie, Casy, Tom, and Al all leave in various ways. The remnants of the Joad family, without food or money, trudge to fifteen or twenty families can't eat the barn. Despite their desperate condition, Ma and Rose of at all." Sharon recognize the need of the starving man and realize a way to help. Once again, difficult circumstances draw the migrant people together through kindness and caring. Rose of — Tenant Farmer, Chapter 5 Sharon breastfeeds the man. In this way, the starving man and his boy join the Joads in the community of humanity. They are The tenant farmer says these words in protest against one of all one large family. This sense of caring comes from the very the tractor drivers, the son of another tenant farmer, who nature of humans. Rose of Sharon has the milk within her to explained that he's plowing the land because he is paid three feed the man. Despite the constant hardships and injustice that dollars a day, every day, meaning he can feed his family. The people face, people have in their nature what they need to statement brings into focus the individual versus community survive. However, by ending the novel with the Joads in a

Copyright © 2019 Course Hero, Inc. The Grapes of Wrath Study Guide Quotes 39 theme. The driver may be saving his own family, but looking out "The twenty families became one just for them harms many other people. Throughout the novel, the narrator shows how people are interrelated and how family, the children were the selfishness can harm others. children of all."

"Fella gets use' to a place, it's hard — Narrator, Chapter 17 to go." The narrator depicts how families can bond together to form one family. During the story, people who are not related by — Jim Casy, Chapter 6 blood help each other when in need, thereby forming a community of humanity. Casy emphasizes how difficult it is for the tenant farmers to leave their land because they have formed a strong bond with it. The statement contrasts with the detachment that the "We're the people that live. They bankers and even the tractor drivers have toward the land, ain't gonna wipe us out ... we go established in the previous chapter. It also suggests the difficulties, the rootlessness, the farmers will experience when on." they are separated from the land.

— Ma Joad, Chapter 20 "Somepin's happening ... the Ma Joad uses these words hoping to encourage Tom, houses is all empty, an' the lan' is emphasizing the strength, fortitude, and unity of common empty." people. She speaks of resilience and toughness. The Joads and the other families like them will endure. Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath to reveal the plight of these people to — Jim Casy, Chapter 10 help them endure.

Casy, speaking for the author, suggests that the large movement of people is significant, something that must be paid "In the souls of the people the attention to, something that cannot be ignored. The simplicity grapes of wrath are filling and and directness of the statements gives it force. growing heavy."

""'Damn right," said Tom. "I'm — Narrator, Chapter 25 bolshevisky."" The narrator explains how the suffering that the migrants are

— Tom Joad, Chapter 16 dealing with is causing anger to grow within them. This anger will result in strong consequences. The quotation also refers to the novel's title. This quotation shows Tom's rebellious nature and his willingness to be viewed as different from the establishment. The term "bolshevisky" refers to a person who practices "Wherever they's a fight so hungry communism, a doctrine that is hated by the landowners. people can eat, I'll be there."

— Tom Joad, Chapter 28 Bank Monster

Tom explains how each person is connected to the community of humanity. As a result, one person takes part in the experience of all people. The "Bank monster" described in Chapter 5 is a symbolic entity that represents the system of the Bank and other big businesses. According to this system, the Bank and other big "Use' ta be the fambly was fust. It businesses need to make more and more of a profit to survive. All the people who work for the monster, no matter how lofty ain't so now. It's anybody." their positions, are really the slaves of the monster, dedicated to providing it with more profits. During this process, contractors order people off land and workers plow over — Ma Joad, Chapter 30 homes all in service of the monster. In California, the monster also exists. Working for the monster, large farmers attract Ma Joad's first sentence is "It used to be the family was first," more migrants than are necessary for the jobs available in spoken in dialect. By that, she means that in the past, people order to keep wages down, keep prices up, and create more would put their families above all other concerns. "Now," and more profits. though, "it's anybody." She realizes that when circumstances get very bad for people, they have to help others outside of family to survive. The statement reflects the novel's theme of individual versus community. Dying Dog l In Chapter 13, the death of the Joads' dog foreshadows the Symbols many tragedies the family will face. Dogs get run over near highways all the time. It's inevitable, the gas station owner states:. "A dog jus' don' last no time near a highway." With their Land Turtle poverty and lack of work, the Joad family is also in a precarious situation. Tragedies for them are just as inevitable as a dog being run over on the highway.

Steinbeck uses the land turtle as a symbol of narrow vision, which enables individuals and businesses to plod ahead on a determined path, one step at a time. In Chapter 3, the narrator Grapes of Wrath states, "A land turtle crawled, turning aside for nothing." On a personal level, Tom and Ma both take the land turtle approach. For Ma, this approach enables her to persevere against hardship. For Tom, though, this attitude is limiting because it For Steinbeck, the "grapes of wrath" represent the growing prevents him for having a wider vision, like Casy. Eventually, anger within the souls of oppressed migrants. This symbol Tom breaks out of the land turtle approach when he sees appears at the end of Chapter 25, in which the author people as belonging to one big soul. Yet, on a broader level, describes how big farmers harvest crops, including fruits such Steinbeck applies the narrow vision of the land turtle to the as grapes. This harvesting is inhumane because the process large landowners and the Bank as they single-mindedly involves destroying food instead of allowing hungry people to achieve their goals of more profits. eat it. Steinbeck takes the imagery of grapes and turns it into a symbol for the migrants. As the big farmers harvest grapes to produce wine, a symbolic crop referred to as the grapes of wrath grows within the souls of the hungry people who watch

this process. Instead of producing poor-quality wine, the "Three dollars a day ... I got a wife and kids. We got to eat." So grapes of wrath are "growing heavy for the vintage." A vintage for some of these individualists, personal or family necessity often refers to a yield of grapes that produces a potent wine. drives them to act in ways that hurt others. Steinbeck got the phrase "grapes of wrath" from a verse in "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which reads "Mine eyes Steinbeck develops the idea of community on two levels: family have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord / He is trampling and humanity. Ma has a fierce desire to keep her family out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored." God, together. With increased resilience, she takes Tom's advice Steinbeck hopes, will trample out the conditions that produce and focuses on the problems of each day without looking too the grapes of wrath. far into the future. Ma combines this attitude with a kindness and determination toward her family that strives to keep them together. However, as the hardships of her family and other migrants get worse, Ma sees the need to expand her Dead Infant in an Apple Box community beyond her family to the common people. She exemplifies these ideals when she supports Rose of Sharon's decision to breastfeed a starving man.

In Chapter 30, Steinbeck uses the dead infant in an apple box Tom also changes from an individualist to a person committed as a symbol that refers to the biblical story of the infant Moses to serving the community. His love for his mother and other being cast off in a papyrus basket in a river. In the Bible, the family members allows him to reach beyond himself to others. basket connects with Noah's ark. As Noah's ark rescued Tom is somewhat influenced by Ma's ideas about the strength humankind, the "ark" of Moses will also rescue the people of of the people. "We're the people that live," she tells him. "They Israel. In The Grapes of Wrath, Rose of Sharon's stillborn baby ain't gonna wipe us out." However, the strongest influence on in the apple box will show people in town the hardships and his transformation is the former preacher, Casy. Through Casy, horror that the migrants are dealing with. Steinbeck presents his view of the human community. Casy sees all people as being part of one soul. This relates to the idea of the "oversoul," a concept discussed by transcendentalist author Ralph Waldo Emerson that asserts m Themes that a universal spirit unites all living things. When people join together for the common good, they have the strength to overcome oppression. Eventually, Tom understands and Individual versus Community accepts these ideas.

Individual versus Community is the most important theme in Selfishness versus Kindness The Grapes of Wrath. At the beginning of the novel, Tom Joad embodies individualism. He is an outsider in society, a person just released from prison who focuses on his own business and Steinbeck contrasts several examples of selfishness and no one else's. The truck driver who gives Tom a lift soon finds kindness throughout the novel. The main proponents of a this out. Tom resents the driver's prying questions and wishes selfish attitude are the major landowners and the Bank and he would mind his own business. Throughout the novel, Tom their desire for increased profits. These entities focus only on talks about just focusing on the problems of today. He even getting profits; they do not care how they abuse others. gives this advice to his mother when she worries about the Owners and the Bank force tenant farmers to leave their future of her family. Also, many other characters are shown as homes. Also, they intentionally attract many more workers than individuals who do not concern themselves with the problems jobs available to keep wages down and prices up. As a result, of others. For instance, in Chapter 5, the tractor driver plows people are torn from their homes, families are broken apart, over the homes of tenant farmers even though he is a son of people live in deplorable conditions, and some people starve to one of these farmers. The driver excuses this action by saying,

death. Those who work for these selfish entities become constantly abused, and some even starve. robots, mechanically doing their work without any concern about how they are harming others. They even commit heinous For Steinbeck, migrants can rebel against this system by using crimes, like destroying oranges instead of letting starving their anger, or wrath. Anger, however, is a volatile emotion. people eat them. Tom gets angry when pushed around by authority figures, and he lashes out in ways that get him arrested, thereby making Contrarily, Steinbeck presents various examples of kindness. him ineffective. Steinbeck's answer is for people to channel These acts often take place between common people helping their anger for the common good. Ma shows this ability when one another during hard times. The Wilsons and Joads help she uses her anger to stand up to her family and keep them one another and thereby form a small community as they travel together. When the mob stops the Joads near the Hooverville, together toward California. The waitress that helps the migrant both Tom and Ma get angry. However, Ma sees the need to family with food is another example. The Wilkie family offers control her anger and Tom's anger as well. Lashing out at the work to Tom, even though doing so means less work for them. mob would do more harm than good. When Tom kills the Mrs. Wainwright helps Ma deliver Rose of Sharon's baby, even policeman that killed Casy, he commits murder, which is not in though she has no family ties with the Joads. the common good. Also, this action could easily get him arrested and bring trouble to his family. However, when Tom Kindness is the glue that holds the community together. Kind hides out, he comes to understand Casy's ideas. By doing this, people in the government camp encourage an efficient, strong, he can focus his anger toward a cause that serves the and caring community. Casy brings migrants together to lead a common good. strike because of his concern for their welfare. Also, Casy dies a sacrificial death for the good of the migrants, which is the Because the migrants are oppressed, wrath builds in their ultimate kindness. By performing the ultimate kindness of souls. Chapter 25 ends with the line, "In the souls of the people breastfeeding the starving man, Rose of Sharon symbolically the grapes of wrath are filling and growing." For Steinbeck, this forms a community with humanity. In contrast, selfishness idea is so important that he titled the novel The Grapes of tears communities apart. This is evident when large Wrath. The author sees this wrath as providing the impetus landowners destroy the community of tenant farmers by that will unite people to fight against oppression. Tom, Ma, and forcing them off their land. In California, landowners constantly Casy all feel this wrath and use it for the benefit of the want to keep the migrants moving to prevent them from joining community. In the government camp, migrants are angry with together and forming a unified community. Keeping migrant the police for trying to break up the dance. However, they use workers oppressed and weak enhances their selfish goals. their anger to focus on working as a community to prevent any future disturbances.

Meekness versus Wrath e Suggested Reading

The meek attitude of the migrants allows landowners and the Benson, Jackson J. John Steinbeck, Writer: A Biography. New Bank to exploit them. Migrants become docile puppets York: Penguin Books, 1990. Print. controlled by the landowners, who act as puppet masters. The Fensch, Thomas, ed. Conversations with John Steinbeck. landowners and the Bank have created an elaborate system Jackson: U of Mississippi, 1988. Print. Literary Conversations for their own advantage. In Oklahoma, owners force tenants Ser. off their land, thus creating thousands of people who are unemployed. In California, landowners attract these people to Ditsky, John, ed. Critical Essays on Steinbeck's The Grapes of their large farms. By doing this, the landowners create high Wrath. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1989. Print. unemployment, which enables them to have their crops picked for a very low price. The meekness of the migrants allows them Steinbeck, Elaine, and Robert Wallsten, eds. Steinbeck: A Life to be exploited within this system. As a result, the migrants are in Letters. New York: Viking, 1975. Print.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath: Text and Criticism. Ed. Peter Lisca and Kevin Hearle. New York: Penguin, 1997. Print. Viking Critical Library.

Steinbeck, John. Working Days: The Journals of The Grapes of Wrath, 1938-1941. Ed. Robert J. DeMott. New York Penguin Books, 1990. Print.