When America was still considered the new–world, landscape proved valuable. Land provided natural resources, new life, beauty, and symbolic opportunities such as freedom, ownership, and status. Manifest destiny was a term given to an attitude prevalent during the 19th century. The term was used to express the belief that Anglo–Saxon Americans’ were to expand their civilization across all of North America. The expansion would include progress of liberty and economic opportunity, as well as expanding territorial boundaries. Most Americans’ believed their hard work would help them to achieve a higher social and economic status. The promise of a bigger and better life was disrupted when the Great Depression hit.
The Great Depression has been…show more content… Their thoughts of prosperous land and profitable jobs helped shape their decisions to leave home and set out for California. Unfortunately, their efforts proved futile and their hopes for a better future led to disappointment; however, the Joad’s family never stopped fighting to maintain their dignity. The novel argues the inter–connected impact of the Great Depression on the American psyche and the American landscape. Individually, each character makes important self revelations about his or her hopes, dreams, and fate. Collectively, the characters illustrate a wide range of emotions that came about during the Great Depression. For example, Tom Joad devotes his time and energy to the present moment. He feared that if he lived for more than the present he would eventually drive himself towards feelings of anger and helplessness. An important element to Steinbeck’s novel included passive Americans who suffered from apathy or lack of interest. Steinbeck’s criticism of apathy is illustrated by his description of men’s disconnection to the land. His description of passive men is a powerful argument against apathy. Therefore, Steinbeck blames passivity for breaking man’s connection to the
