Community as an Essential Tool for Survival in The Grapes of Wrath Throughout John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, the idea of community is very apparent. As the Joad family moves out west to California in search of jobs, they stop on the sides of the roads with others and form mini camps. When they get to California, they stay in several camps, one of which is a special government camp. At these government camps the idea of community is expressed through the members’ care for each other and concern for each other’s wellness. Community is important to these travelers for many reasons; it helps them find people who are going through similar difficulties as them and it helps them to find all the resources they need. The idea of community is essential to the survival of the characters in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath by ensuring everyone has food to eat, everyone can make it out west, and everyone is kept in safety. Firstly, the idea of community is essential to the survival of the characters in The Grapes of Wrath because it ensures that everyone has food. During this period, the Dust Bowl was happening and a lot of the food production in the United States was affected negatively. Also, many of the people in the United States struggled to have enough to buy food. Because of this, poorer people, such as those traveling across the country, like the characters in The Grapes of Wrath struggled to get enough food to eat enough if at all. This idea is expressed