Grapes Of Wrath Essay Example

sky lost its intensity and became pale. This paleness extended to the earth, appearing pink in the red country and white in the grey country. This indicates how the land faded and grew dim under the relentless abuse inflicted by cotton farming, which stripped away its vitality. As the story progresses, Steinbeck persistently incorporates simple color imagery when describing elements such as the sun, dust, and light. For instance, layers of dust covered the bed and obscured the truck's headlights like a red flour coating. As the sun set, casting a bloody hue over the earth, a truck returned (understood from context).In Chapter 6, Steinbeck continues to use color imagery with the image of a large red drop of sun lingering and setting. Moving into Chapter 16, he introduces descriptions of the rolling grey country, maintaining this type of color imagery. Another recurring theme is animal imagery, with a focus on the symbolic land turtle. The turtle's back legs strain like those of an elephant, while its shell tilts at an angle preventing the front legs from reaching the cement plain (20). With humorous eyes and a slightly opened horny beak, the turtle's yellow toenails slip in the dust (21). These descriptions convey the sense of struggling efforts and lack of results, mirroring the hardships experienced by those in the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck also uses animal qualities to describe the characters themselves. For instance, Joad's lips stretch tight over his long teeth momentarily and he licks his lips in both directions like a dog (16).In his portrayal of the people of the time and their weariness of life and emotions, he utilized imagery. The individuals

had lines of weariness around their eyes and lines of discontentment down from their mouths. Their breasts lay heavily in little hammocks. Their mouths panted, their eyes were sullen, disliking the sun, wind, and earth. They resented food and weariness, and hated time that rarely made them beautiful and always made them old (199).

Steinbeck used imagery excessively with simple colors such as red and grey. He also incorporated imagery of animals and people to establish a mood for the story. This mood remained consistent throughout, reflecting a sense of tiredness and hopelessness.

Steinbeck innovatively incorporated intercalary chapters into his novel The Grapes of Wrath, which served to separate the Joads' journey to California and provide insight into their experiences from a different perspective. These intercalary chapters effectively portrayed the social and historical backdrop of the story. They highlighted the difficulties faced by other families who had to part with their belongings, the hardships of traveling across the country, and the varying viewpoints of different sections of society during the worsening times. These chapters depicted how the men were harsh because their past had been ruined, while the women understood that their past would haunt them in the days to come (111). In Chapter 19, the concept of Hoovevilles and Okies was explored, illustrating that similar thoughts were running through the minds of all fellow travelers. The desire to reach California, where oranges grew, before facing further hardships was expressed with desperation (153). Chapter 15 provided an excellent depiction of the various societal divisions. The waitress at a diner on Rt. 66 revealed that although these families occasionally stopped for gas, they rarely made any other purchases.

There were rumors of theft, but according to her, they did not have anything lying around and had never had anything stolen from them (203). Additionally, these intercalary chapters allowed Steinbeck to share his personal opinions on the unfolding events.In Chapter 15, Steinbeck discusses the lives of the individuals that waitress Mae referred to as "shitheels". He focuses on businessmen who try to believe that their lives are rich, despite knowing they are stuck in monotonous routines. He suggests that a time will come when they will no longer fear. He also insinuates that farmers were robbed of their land and he does not favor banks, policemen, and the President. Steinbeck expresses his belief in Chapter 12 that it is a free country after a family learns about people being denied entry into California. The intercalary chapters serve to foreshadow future events in the novel. Chapter 12 illustrates the chaos of people struggling to reach California, indicating that it may not live up to its expectations. It also hints at the vast number of people heading towards California. In Chapter 15, Mae wonders where all these people go. Steinbeck utilizes language to depict the social and historical background of the story.In Chapter 15, the author provides a notable example of an object symbolizing the era, using a cent. He explains how a nickel in a phonograph causes musicians to sing. The nickel drops into the box where profits are collected, unlike regular money, it has actually performed a task and caused a reaction physically. This nickel serves as a comparison to sharecroppers and farmers who were displaced from their land and left to contribute their

labor while others reap the profits. Previously, the land was cultivated by individuals who were physically responsible for the crops' production, but something went wrong along the way. Additionally, Chapter 15 features vivid language describing a Depression-era traveling family. A worn 1926 Nash Sedan pulls off the highway with the back seat overloaded with sacks, pots and pans. Two boys ride on top of the piled-up items, while atop the car rests a mattress and folded tent.The man cautiously stepped out of the vehicle, with tent poles secured on the running board. Standing in front of the screen, he displayed an intriguing humility, one that held stubborn persistence (203-4).
In addition to symbolism and descriptive language, the writer also utilized dialect for historical authenticity.
Tom exclaimed, "We're going. The policeman says we have to go. Might as well get it over with. If we start off well, we might be finished soon. We have nearly three hundred miles to travel."
Pa complained, "I thought we were going to get some rest."

Thus, we are not willing to stay here. We must depart immediately (279).

This passage displays the impressive eloquence of these individuals' communication, as well as their determination to reach California without further abuse. These individuals lacked a permanent residence and were unwelcome anywhere, in addition to lacking proper education.

With the extensive usage of the intercalorie chapters and Steinbeck's use of language, various themes developed, one of the most prominent being the influence of technology on the circle of life. This theme is most effectively conveyed in the first few chapters, where it is established that it was inevitable for the Joads to

leave their land. This had happened before and will happen again. Grampa killed the Indians, Pa killed snakes for the land. Perhaps now we can fight against banks - they are worse than Indians and snakes. Maybe we have to fight to keep our land, just like Pa and Grampa did (43). Through powerful language, Steinbeck portrays that the world is rapidly changing due to tractor technology, resulting in numerous deaths. The driver sat proudly in his iron seat, proud of the straight lines he did not will, proud of the tractor he did not own or love, proud of the power he could not control. And when the crop grew and was harvested, no man had crumbled a hot clod in his fingers or felt the earth sift through his fingertips. No man had touched the seed or yearned for its growth. Men consumed what they had not cultivated and lacked any connection with the bread. The land suffered under iron and gradually perished under its influence.The poem describes the effects of the development of the tractor on society and the land. It points out that while the tractor provided job opportunities for those who operated it, it also resulted in the loss of jobs and lives for many people who relied on traditional agriculture. The poem emphasizes the disparity between the rich and the poor, stating that what brings wealth to some creates poverty for others. It suggests that if crop rotation were implemented, it could revive the land. However, it is too late for that now. The poem criticizes banks and companies for prioritizing profits over the well-being of people and the

environment. It implies that these entities operate differently from individuals because they thrive on profits and interest, analogous to how humans need air and food to survive. The poem highlights the sad reality that technology, such as tractors, can make a few fortunate individuals wealthy but can also lead to the devastation of certain sections of society. Furthermore, it emphasizes how a meager wage cannot sustain multiple families, forcing them into poverty. The driver in the poem dismisses these concerns, focusing on his own family's needs and acknowledging that times are changing. He implies that owning large plots of land and having access to a tractor are necessary in order to make a living from agriculture in this evolving landscape.Crop land is no longer suitable for small individuals like us. The inhabitants adapted and evolved in different ways in order to maintain this cycle, desperately holding onto any opportunity that could counteract the impacts of technology. Consequently, their social existence transformed - only a person has the power to initiate such changes. They ceased to be farmers and became migrants.

Technology, specifically the arrival of tractors, sparked a new way of life and led to the increasing greed of the wealthy and the growing power of banks. It brought about significant changes, such as the separation of families and the demise of the poor. The rich developed a fear and hatred for the impoverished. Additionally, numerous jobs were lost while new ones emerged. John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath, serves to illustrate the impact of technology on the cycle of life, revealing how it enriched an individual while impoverishing many others.

The novel The Grapes of

Wrath by Steinbeck incorporates various symbols that are not allegorical. Some argue that it is a biblical allusion, comparing the Joad family's journey to California with the Jewish people's journey to the promised land. However, California did not fulfill its promised opportunities, causing many to leave. Comparisons have been made between Jim Casey and Jesus Christ, suggesting that Casey led his 12 disciples to the promised land. However, Casey did not actually lead the family; Ma Joad did. Casey also did not have any mystical beliefs but simply joined them along their journey. Furthermore, Casey's preaching was not similar to Jesus Christ's teachings. Perhaps he was meant to represent a new version of Jesus, with a different pilgrimage approach. In conclusion, although there are numerous symbols in the story that could suggest an allegory, it would diminish the book's power. Many readers prefer not to reinterpret the Joads' journey and retain its powerful representation of societal struggles during that time period.

Words
/ Pages : 2,627 / 24