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.

The Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 8

During the trip to Uncle Tom's house, Tom tells Casy about his aunt's death. His  uncle blamed himself for the death of his wife because he ignored her illness.  However, positive actions came from his tragic event. He became a very generous  man towards others. "He figures it's his fault his woman died. Funny fella. He's  all the time makin' it up to somebody. Give away about ever'thing he got, an'  still ain't very happy (Steinbeck 69)." I can understand the guilt Uncle Tom  must feel because his wife's death is a little bit his fault, and I can also  understand how he isn't completely over the event. I just think that instead of  people looking at him in an odd way for isolating himself maybe they should talk  with him. Communicating and support is a common way to help relieve issues. When  they arrive at Uncle Tom's house, Tom Joad's father is working outside.  Steinbeck used a large amount of descriptions and emotions during the reunion  between Tom and his father. It was really nice because I was really able to  picture the setting and feel a part of the special moment. Then Joad reunited  with his mother and eventually his little brother, Al. I found it kind of odd  and little humorous how Tom's ma, pa, and brother asked whether he had escaped  from prison. I don't think that would be my first reaction if I had seen someone  who had been imprisoned for awhile. Tom also learned about his younger sister  and her recent pregnancy. It symbolized how much time Joad has spent away from  home. He commented on how she was just a child when he left which makes me  sympathize with him because of how many memories he has missed out on. He will  now be able to create new memories as his family heads to California together.  Chapter eight was very informing and has got me interested in the story. The  novel started slow, but I am at the point where I want to keep reading to know  what will happen next.

[Bibliography]

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

The Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 6 & 7

As Tom and Casy pull up to the Joad's family home, they witness the dry fields and abandoned homes that are a result of the Oklahome Dust Bowl. I can't imagine what it must have felt like for Tom to see his childhood home so lonesome and left to decompose. The two begin talking to Muley Graves, a family friend of the Joads, and he informs the men that the Joad family and their neighbors were forced to desert their homes and belongings in order to find pay and a new life elsewhere. I feel sympathetic towards these families because they were forced out by the land owners. It would be shameful enough to be unable to make a paycheck for your family, but it would be even more embarrassing to be forced to go because you couldn't pay off the land owners. Not to say that the families didn't fight for their farm land. "You're grampa stood out here with a rifle, an' he blowed the headlights off that cat' (Steinbeck 46)," Muley told the men. The situation is especially sad because it wasn't that the farmers weren't working hard, but because of the weather conditions that they couldn't produce enough crop. Muley eventually telld the guys that the Joad's went to stay with in uncle in hopes of finding new work and pay, which leads them to their next destination.

Chapter seven is another breif chapter that is told by a different narrator. I have become fond of these chapters because it gives the reader a break from all the sympathetic plot. This one happens to be a corrupt car salesman who sells junk cars to the needy, migrant farmers. "Owners with rolled up sleeves. Salesmen, neat, deadly, small intent eyes watching for weaknesses (Steinbeck 61)." He does rotten things to cars to make them sound or look better, but not necessarily run better. However, he is able to sell the vehicles at high prices becasue the farmers are uneducated. As if these poor farming families haven't gone through enough, deceitful car salesmen have to be thrown into the mix.

[Bibliography]

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

The Grapes of Wrath: Chapter 4 & 5

On his way to the farm, Tom Joad recognizes a man from his past. Reverend Jim Casey, the man, was a preacher at the church Joad attended as a child. The Reverend rides along with Tom, and the two get to talking and learn quite a bit about each other. Jim Casey tells Joad about how he is no longer a preacher because of the sinful things he used to do to little girls. He also admits to not truly believing in the religion any longer. "Maybe it's all men an' all woman we love; maybe that's the Holy Sperit- the human sperit- the whole shebang (Steinbeck 24)." He finishes off by saying, "I ain't preachin' no more. The sperit ain't in the people much no more, an' worse'n that, the sperit ain't in me no more (Steinbeck 20)." By the time they reach Joad's family farm, there is nothing left there except for dust. Although I find Jim Casey to be a worthless man for what he did to those poor little girls, I do think it is sad that he lost all passion for his religion. That being said, he is a total hypocrite for not believing in men when it is sick men like him that lose the trust in the first place. This is also the chapter in which Joad admits to not regretting the murder he committed. "I'd do what I done again (Steinbeck 25)," he said.

The next chapter dates back to when the landowners are evicting the tenant farmers. I guess the novel incorporates chapters of foreshadowing and some of flashbacks, but I am a little confused because I haven't been able to completely grasp this concept yet. Anyways, tractors are used to get rid of these dusted out farms, and the sad part is that the tractor drivers are friends and neighbors of the farmers. It all goes back to humanity. People were suffering so much that they'd do anything, even if that meant causing harm to a friend, in order to make a few bucks. As the tractors came in, a great example of the Transitive Property of Geometry was used. "The land bore-under iron, and iron gradually died; for it was not loved or hated, it had no prayers or curses (Steinbeck 36)." If this were geometry a problem it would be set up like this: If land = under iron and under iron = dead, then land = dead. Mr. Bryan would be so proud.

[Bibliography]

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

The Grapes of Wrath: Chapters 1,2,&3

I have read a few chapters into The Grapes of Wrath, and it already contains more characters, dialogue, and enertainment than The Old Man and the Sea ever did. I can already tell that it's going to be much more interesting and factual than the old man and the marlin.

The novel begins by describing the long summer drought and the dust that covers an Oklahoma residence. From the facts we know about history, we can tell that this is describing the famous, Dust Bowl. Because of the drought, the crops were having a very hard time growing, and the farmers were feeling anxious. Fear was also a major emotion felt by many farming families. "The women studied the men's faces secretly, for the corn could go, as long as something else remained (Steinbeck 3)." I feel bad for the farmers because this is their livelihood and how they provide for their family. It is sad that they can't do anything about the dust.

In chapter two, Tom Joad, usually referred to as Joad, is on his way back to the family farm after a stint in prison for killing a man during a bar fight. Later in the novel, Joad admits that he didn't regret the murder. He meets a truck driver and the driver begins to tell him about a piece of machinery known as a "cat." "Croppers going fast now. One cat takes and shoves ten families out (Steinbeck 8)." This one tool has the ability to make eight families lose their farms because of the amount of work it can do alone. I find the situation very relatable to today with a larger percentage of people out of work because new technology can do the same work at a high frequency and in less time.

Every so often, Steinbeck adds in a chapter of simple and corky thoughts. Keeping that in mind, chapter three discusses a turtle in the middle of the road. Some avoid hitting it and others drive right over it, knocking it to its side. I believe these easy to read chapters teach their own little messages. This one deals with the humanity in people.

[Bibliography]

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

 

The Old Man and the Sea: Joe DiMaggio's Role

Joe DiMaggio began as a role model for Santiago. He checked the Yankees' score and player stats every morning. He also enjoyed informing Manolin on who was pitching that day. At times when the young boy questioned the team, Santiago would say, "Have faith in the Yankees my son. Think of the great DiMaggio (Hemingway 97)." It is fair to say that the old man way a big fan.

As the journey continued, DiMaggio became a sign of strength for the old man. After multiple days of pulling the fish, Santiago asked himself, "Do you believe the great DiMaggio would stay with a fish as long as I will stay with this one (Hemingway 68)?" When he had to fight through the pains in his hands and leg, the old man went back to Joe. "But I must have confidence and I must be worthy of the great DiMaggio who does all things perfectly even with the pain of the bone spur in his heel (Hemingway 68)," he thought. In order to keep his mind off of reality, Santiago would day dream about the well-known Yankee centerfielder. "I would like to take the great DiMaggio fishing (Hemingway 22)," he wished.

By the end, Santiago had to kill the marlin because it was his only chance of survival. They had created a friendly relationship, but his scarred body was attracting predators and using up all of the old man's strength. Although not completely sure of his decision, the old man reassured himself by saying, "I think the great DiMaggio would be proud of me today (Hemingway 97)."

Joe DiMaggio served as a hero for the old man and a great historical reference for The Old Man and the Sea. His significance in the novel was not only entertaining, but also a nice informational reference. He helps you get a better understanding of not only Santiago, but also Ernest Hemingway, who was known for being an avid sports fan and often spotted at a New York Yankees baseball game.

[Bibliography]

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.

The Old Man and the Sea: Irony

"Then if you hook something truly big we can come to you aid (Hemingway 14)." This statement, made by Manolin before the old man left, is likely to be the most ironic phrase of the entire novel. Although the young boy admits at the end of the novel that a search team looked for Santiago by helicopter, they were never able to find him in his tiny skiff. Another ironic statement made by Manolin was his question for the old man before he went fishing. "But are you strong enough for a truly big fish (Hemingway 14)?" These quotes served not only as foreshadowing for the plot, but also as very ironic statements.

Manolin's parents forbid him from fishing with Santiago saying "that the old man was now definitely and finally salao, which is the worst form of unlucky (Hemingway 9)." However, the boy continued to help Santiago before he went out fishing. On the particular day that the old man caught the marlin, Manolin had bought him fresh sardines to fish with. It's ironic how the young boy provided some luck for the old man when it was because of his luck that he couldn't fish with him in the first place.

When he finally ends his eighty-four day streak by catching the great marlin, the old man has the struggle of his life to get home. Enduring muscle pains, fighting off predators, and becoming weak from lack of food and strength were all ironic signs of how the world was always against Santiago.

Finally, the old man returned to the Havana frail and starved. The other fisherman, who were once tormenters of Santiago, were around and had very little to say to the old man. They were in awe over the huge skeletal matter that the old man had carried home. None of them spoke to the old man because he was now seen as a hero amongst the fishers of the Cuban coast.

[Bibliography]

Hemingway, Ernest. The Old Man and the Sea. New York: Scribner, 2003. Print.