The Grapes of Wrath: Why Do We Read it?

Although The Grapes of Wrath is considered to be a fictional piece, it gives many realistic examples that reflect The Dust Bowl of the 1930's. The struggles that the families endured with losing their farms and traveling across the country are very true. The truth of how the migrants were treated when they reached California was also very eye opening. The derogatory term 'Okies' was being used towards them (Steinbeck 214). I have learned very little about the relationship between the migrant farmers and the California natives, let alone The Dust Bowl itself, so it was really nice to learn about them through this interesting novel. John Steinbeck's ability to incorporate reality into an entertaining and heartfelt story was accomplished very honorably through The Grapes of Wrath.

 This novel is a must read for the generations who weren't around to witness The Dust Bowl and who don't know what the event was in order to get an idea of what took place and what families had to go through. I think the biggest thing that I learned about The Dust Bowl that I didn't know before was how difficult the journey across the country was for many farming families. Since they hadn't worked for some time, they had very little money to travel with. They also had to get rid of most of their belongings before leaving. "How can we live without our lives (Steinbeck 88)," they asked. It was even harder for the older family members to travel, and in the case of the Joads, the grandparents didn't make it to California.

Along with the factual information, The Grapes of Wrath teaches a lesson that each and every reader can learn. Several chapters of the novel are used to portray humanity. The way people treat each other was very important at this time in America, and I believe it still is today. It was very smart of Steinbeck to use humanity as a theme because it's a lesson that will be relatable to people year after year. It will never stop being a common topic. Another message mentioned in the novel was to act upon something you believe in. Tom Joad became an activist to speak up for the migrants, and showed very admirable traits.

[Bibliography]

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