Californians In Many Ways example essay topic

An outstanding story that will touch your soul, The Grapes of Wrath delivers a shocking piece of reality. Of hard times and pulling together while others try and bring you down. John Steinbeck captures the hearts of his readers in this novel. While revolving around ecological concepts, family values, biblical views, dynamics and morals are set off into a masterpiece of literature. Set in the dust bowl of Oklahoma, nestled in the red country, the Joads family sharecrops on what was once their own farm. Generations are born, raised, and have died on this land.

After crops fail, the Bank, referred to as the monster, forecloses, tearing the people from the land (ch. 5). The Joads as well as half a million others, are forced to leave the ground they are a part of. They become homeless and destitute, as their lives as well as the land, fill with emptiness (ch. 11).

In search of hope the Joads travel west in a truck, with dreams of good jobs, fresh fruit, and little white houses. Arriving in California they find few jobs, low wages and unwelcoming people. The people roaming from the Mid West work together and become one Unit. The CA residents despise the "Okies" (a name given to migrating people from Oklahoma), and make trouble for them.

When the cost to pick the fruit is to high workers strike and the land fills with rot. Failure hangs over all, and wrath grows inside those who hunger (ch. 25). Survival becomes key as values diminish. These people from the Mid West are different from the people of the West. The Okies are more destitute than the Californians.

Deprived of many things, their life has been full of struggles and they are more driven. They hunger and need, deprived of many things, moving constantly, being pushed around, kicked out of camps, and discriminated. The Okies are stronger than the Californians in many ways. There is a bond between those who have suffered. An understanding exists and selfishness is discouraged. Constantly looking out for their own, the intermediate family is key.

Pulling together is difficult on the California territory. When groups form they are brought down twice as fast. Californians fear the hard faced determination in the okies, who are powered by their need. That those who have necessities do not know, have never felt or experienced before. This can only be known through desperate need. The tradition of men as house hold leaders and women as housewives lives on yet changes through out the turmoil.

When Pa weakens Ma is the strong backbone that keeps everything together. Putting her foot down when it comes to keeping the family collected. She is the dominant Leader and has the last say in everything. The men carry burdens of not being able to feed their children. Hard work is expected and delivered, without much reward. Only a fraction of the people who started out make it to the end.

Some wander off to escape being a burden, while others die of malnutrition and other things. Many Deaths occured in this journey. Grandma and Grandpa die before ever reaching their destination. Being taken off the land that he was a part of. The Dog is hit by a car and left where stricken.

Casey, a former preacher, is killed for leading a strike. Many deaths were a result of malnutrition. Fried Dough is sometimes all that there is to eat. In one case a child died and many people helped to pay for the child to be buried.

Little scripture is quoted yet many are mentioned in some way or form. In vain as well as praise Jesus Christ is in essence a main character, spoken of lightly. There is a biblical context however accurate it may not always be, there is strength to it. The Joads talk about sin, yet fail to acknowledge there is salvation.

The title was derived from a psalm in the bible as well as names of characters. Steinbeck has an incredible way of capturing a moment in time and releasing it into words the reader can feel as though actually suspended in the scene. He paints a picture with words. His trait is like that of a double personality. Steinbeck has two distinct styles, a very creative flow of events intertwined with the family's perception and own unique personalities.

Getting off the story line he describes things going along with the idea or heart of the previous or next chapter. He carries on to an intensely descriptive intricately educating manner giving in depth explanation and understanding to go with the theme as it moves along. Flowing gracefully between modes in every other chapter, adds contrast and perspective. I found this to be a moralistic hurricane, and in some ways quite inhumane. The family Dynamics stood out amongst the environment issues, after diving deeper into this story. First wading into this book, the farm and geography where explained so well that the crisp air could be felt.

The Harshness and cruelty of the weather played an important roll. The control which one has over it is quit obvious and it is refreshing to see people deal with the changes rather than turn from them. The Astonishment and craze of the deaths are disturbing. Money that is so scarce is bestowed upon a lifeless child. Why does the Money have to go to the death and not food for the life of a child to keep living? Why do they all pitch in when a child dies, but not before it is to late?

There just isn't enough morning over the losses. The ecological foundation, and farming are blended with the theme of carrying on an endless journey. Headed forward always but never amounting. The short very detailed story of the Turtle was very monumental, in a way it represented the Joads going forward but never really getting anywhere (ch. 3). With their heads held high not letting the surroundings bring them down, as discouraging as they may be.

Work Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath and Other Writings 1936-1941. New York: Literary, 1996.