Money In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Words: 1201
Pages: 5
Open Document
The Grapes of Wrath and the Importance of Money
In The Grapes of Wrath money or better yet the lack of money was a recurring issue in the entire book. Not only did money have a major influence on the plot but it is also tied directly to some of the major themes of the book. It should also be noted that money had a considerable effect on the, some ways depressing, out some of the story.
The first issue with money is that the Joad's were not able to harvest their crops; they could not make money and they ended up getting evicted from their land. Since the Joad's don't have any money this sets up the rest of the book and the events that follow. The Joads don't have any money and there are no jobs in Oklahoma, due to the horrid drought that has …show more content…
The migrant workers bonded and worked together, “In the evening a strange thing happened: the twenty families became one family, the children of one were the children of all. The loss of home became one loss, and the golden time in the west became one dream” (Page 193). Due to the lack of money and the need to go to California to make money all the separate entities became one family, one unit. Throughout the entire book generosity is a huge theme, for example the migrant workers were constantly helping and assisting each other due to the universal lack of money. Since the migrants were so close with one another they were very generous one another, “A family which the night before lost and fearful might search to find a present for a newborn baby” (Page 193). The people helped and supported one another, “A man with food fed a hungry man, and thus insured himself against hunger. And when a baby died a pile of silver coins grew at the door flap, for a baby must be well buried since it has had nothing else of life. An old man may be left in a potter’s field, but not a baby” (Page 195). Countless times throughout the book the migrant families were helping one another. For example the Joads and Wilsons helped one another in many ways. Ivy and Sairy allowed their tent to be used while Granpa was sick. For a little while the families travelled together and assisted each other
Show More

Related Documents: Money In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Analysis Of John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

change politically, economically, and socially. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl wore raw the nerves of the people, and our true strength was shown. From it arose John Steinbeck, a storyteller of the Okies and their hardships. His books, especially The Grapes of Wrath, are reflections of what really went on in the 1930's. John Steinbeck did not write about what he had previously read, he instead wrote what he experienced through his travels with the migrant workers. "His method was not to present…

Words 1351 - Pages 6

Essay on Steinbeck and His Approach to Men and Women

heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible.” In John Steinbeck’s works, The Grapes of Wrath and “The Chrysanthemums,” men are shown as carefree roles, who do not appreciate possessions or things they have worked hard for. The women characters in Steinbeck’s works come across as caring, or maybe even care about things too much, and they also take pride in what they have earned. Steinbeck portrays throughout his works, such as The Grapes of Wrath and “The Chrysanthemums,” how differently men and…

Words 710 - Pages 3

Who Are The Farmers In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath takes place in the “dust bowl” period of the US in the 1930’s during the Great Depression. During this time, an abundant amount of farmers, (particularly those from Oklahoma to Arizona) migrated westward to California in search of wealth and job security. The protagonists are the Joad Family, one of many families who were evicted off of their land from the Government and forced to migrated westward. Their goal was to travel to California because they heard there…

Words 660 - Pages 3

Migration In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

The Joad’s of John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath” is a family that traveled from Oklahoma to California in search of employment. In the assigned excerpt, being the last 3 chapters, they started working on a cotton field. During this time, they are also living in boxcars with another family named the Wainwrights. Both of these families are struggling to come up with the money and means to survive, turning to the point of desperate and fearful when the flood hits. One of the characters from the Joad’s…

Words 457 - Pages 2

The Grapes Of Wrath Literary Analysis

In the year nineteen sixty-two John Steinbeck was asked after winning the Nobel Peace Prize if he really deserved it. He Replied with, "frankly, no" Steinbeck was a very shy man who hated talking to reporters or speaking out to the public. A humble man who kept to himself is what author of Steinbeck's eleven hundred page biography stated. Many believed that Steinbeck's life story is often fascinating and compelling. The great author often used his own adventures in his fiction work. Providing a back…

Words 504 - Pages 3

Juxtaposition In The Grapes Of Wrath

“Once California belonged to Mexico, and its land to the Mexicans; and a horde of tattered feverish Americans poured in.” That was from the nineteenth chapter of John Steinbeck's Novel, The Grapes of Wrath, in which Americans claim Mexican land for their self. After several generations the Americans have Mexicans, among other immigrants, working for extremely low pay. The Americans can get away with this because “if they gety funny--deport them.” Throughout this chapter Steinbeck uses a mixture of…

Words 313 - Pages 2

Suffering In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Human suffering plagued the country in the 1930's and John Steinbeck perfectly portrayed the suffering within his classic book Grapes of Wrath. Although the Joads are fictional characters the plight hey faced was all too real. The Dust bowl pushed millions of people from their homes out into the unfriendly land of California. Forced from their homes the families of laborers fought against each other for jobs. Before the savage war of finding work hit families the groups could rely on each other…

Words 1285 - Pages 6

Essay on Catcher In the Rye vs. Grapes of Wrath

is analyzed in The Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath. Both authors address the corruption; however they do so from different perspectives they come to differing resolutions. Both protagonists in their novels experience isolation as a result of society’s corruption; however, Salinger’s chooses to isolate himself whereas Steinbeck’s experiences isolation inadvertently. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath share a social commentary about how corruption…

Words 1780 - Pages 8

The Great Gatsby Essays

The Grapes of Wrath “I’m learnin’ one thing good,” she said. “Learnin’ it all a time, ever’ day. If you’re in trouble or hurt or need—go to poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help—the only ones.”* In John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads are a desperately poor family of tenant farmers that are driven from their Oklahoma home by drought and economic hardship. They set out to California to hopefully find jobs and a better future. During their journey, the Joads suffer through…

Words 698 - Pages 3

John Steinbeck: A Loner Hero

obvious comparison between characters from the Bible and from East of Eden are Cal as Cain, as both murdered their brother and were punished for such a horrendous crime. However, Cal is also a subtly Judas, as he betrays his father’s trust to make money off of World War I and Cal’s actions lead to his father’s eventual death. Yet both Cal and Judas are forgiven by their Jesus for their actions. For some people, however, reading the Bible and following it is enough to acquire redemption. For others…

Words 1364 - Pages 6