Grapes Of Wrath Struggle For Survival Essay, Research Paper

THE GRAPES OF WRATH

THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL

The Grapes of Wrath is an intense story about life that opens our eyes and makes us aware of the Great Depression. It shows us how difficult it was to survive in the conditions of harsh weather, extreme temperatures, and droughts that were present in that time. Steinbeck tells the story through the Joad family and how they struggle to survive. He also describes in some short chapters the background of where they came from and what was going on outside of the Joads.

In the beginning of the book Tom, the second oldest son, is hitch hiking back home from McAlester, the prison. He was just paroled from a murder sentence after spending about four years in jail. When he gets off the truck he runs into the preacher, Casey. The only thing different is that Casey is no longer a preacher and has not been around for a long time either. He left because of the conflicts he had with his belief in God. After they sit and talk for a while they decide to walk to the Joads house together, although Tom’s parents have no idea that he has been paroled. When they reach the house the two of them notice that it unusually banged up and empty; they step inside the hose and see that it is vacant except for a couple of things that were left behind. Some of them were important to the family.

As they are there, they realize someone coming towards them and they discover its an old friend of Tom, Mulley. Mulley tells them that his family has already left and they were unable to reach him to let him know what was happening to them. Tom and Casey eventually catch up to the family at Uncle Tom’s cabin and are greeted with open arms. Soon after their arrival, the family is once again forced to leave. After purchasing a truck, the family heads for California in the search of a home and work, but during this Grandpa does not want to leave and he puts up a struggle. The family decides to drug him just to bring him along but he later dies along the way of a major stroke.

Casey decides to accompany the family while dealing with his own personal conflict. As the trip gets longer, the family meets up with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson one night along the road. The two families continue to travel west together until they are separated when Mrs. Wilson becomes fatally ill, which forces the Wilsons to stay behind. The struggle of the Joad’s is becoming more and more apparent now as they experience the realities of life. The money situation was starting to get grim as well. The cruel officers and Tom’s encounter with them, the convincing salesmen, and ignorant people all contributed to the total scenario and struggle the family is dealing with. On this journey Grandma dies, as well as Rose of Sharon’s baby which only adds to the trouble. Rose’s husband, Connie, eventually walks out on her. Noah Joad, Tom’s older brother gives up on the belief of going west, and he leaves the family to remain by a river in which the family had stopped at. Ma Joad starts to realize that the family she has struggled so hard to keep together is falling apart. It starts to seem as if nothing good is happening especially because of the fact Jim Casey is murdered and Tom getting his vengeance kills someone who was involved in the murder. Because of this he is forced into hiding, while the lack of jobs and insufficient wages hurt the family even more.

Once the family makes it to California, all their hopes and dreams are shattered. They become shortly employed with descent pay, but then the wages are slashed, and the hard times get even worse. Without any money, possessions, and enough food supply, the family finally hits rock bottom when strong rains flood their boxcar home, destroying their truck, and once again sending the remaining family members out to seek new shelter.

Personally I believe that the role that mother played was very strong, she…

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