Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 9 & 10

"Maybe we can start again, in the new rich land-in California, where the fruit
grows. We'll start over (Steinbeck 87)." I find the hope that the Joad family
has to be very inspiring, however, from what I know about the Dust Bowl, I know
that these dreams didn't come true for most migrant families. Their journey is
just beginning and I hope it works out for the best. Before they can leave for
California, the family must get rid of their belongings that they can't take
with them. I can understand cleaning up to relocate, but the amount of stuff
that the Joad family had to leave behind was just unimaginable. They were able
to sell some of it for little profit, but the rest had to be burned or thrown
out another way. Getting rid of the childhood belongings and memories for the
Joads' was a very sad part in the novel. It's not as if their house burned down
and they lost all there stuff, but in their case, they are having to watch all
their personal things go up in smoke. They debated with each other. "How can we
live without our lives? How will we know it's us without our past? No. Leave it.
Burn it. (Steinbeck 88)." Sacrifices like these had to be made in order for the
Joad's to begin their new life. Although a very sad event, it holds true to the
toll that the Dust Bowl took on families.

John Steinbeck used several literary techniques in chapter ten that added a
little more depth to the story. For instance, at the beginning of this chapter
ma tells Tom, "I hope things is all right in California (Steinbeck 90)." Her
hesitation is a form of foreshadowing, which gets readers asking questions and
becoming curious. It makes you wonder why she has doubt in California. Steinbeck
also uses examples of cause and effect in this chapter. when Grampa decides he
doesn't want to go to California anymore, the family decides to drug him.
Because he didn't want to go, pa had to drug him with medicine to make sure they
could get him in the car without any fuss. Another example involves Tom and the
time he spent in jail. Because he is now out of jail, Tom is now on parole. This
means he isn't supposed to be leaving the country. However, he continues to
ignore the subject when he is asked about it.
 
[Bibliography]
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.



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