How Did The Dust Bowl Affect The Grapes Of Wrath

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This book is not merely a great American novel; it is also a significant event in our national history. Mr. Steinbeck captured a little sight of the millions of Americans whose lives had been crushed by historical events like the “Dust Bowl” and the “Great Depression”. He has managed to capture a glimpse of what moving in the Dust Bowl would be like for a family. The author tried to awaken the nation's comprehension and compassion; and in my opinion has succeeded. The Dust Bowl happened in the southern parts of the Great Plains, particularly throughout western Oklahoma and Texas. This “Dust Bowl” was not a bowl made of dust. It is actually the effect of a massive drought that took place. This process would be that because of the drought, there was an …show more content…
In The Grapes of Wrath, the people have to work together in order to survive. The evil of capitalism and the big businesses trying to tear them down, and keep them hungry in order to make a buck. The Hoovervilles were more receptive. They did not turn away those who were like them. Their empathy brings them together and because of this, their hearts became one. They shared what little they had. This principle in theory, changes people in a way that could never have been imagined. A perfect example of that was Tom Joad. Tom begins the novel in a position of self-interest. He claims that four years in prison has molded him into someone who devotes his time and energies to the present. The future, which seems out of reach, does not concern him. Tom Joad, in my opinion, undergoes the most significant transformation in the novel as he sheds this carpe diem (seize the day) philosophy for a commitment to bettering the future. Then towards the end of this remarkable novel Tom realizes that he cannot stand as a silent witness to the world’s injustices. That he cannot work for his own family’s well-being if it means stealing from another
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