Grapes Of Wrath Rhetorical Analysis

The American Dream The Dust Bowl was the leading cause of an economic depression in the 1930s. It was due to poor agricultural practices in the Midwest. These practices left lots of topsoil and when the wind came it created giant dust storms. These dust storms were so bad that they killed all of the crops on the farms, which was how a majority of families in the Midwest made money. So, Midwestern families went on the American Dream to find prosperity. The American Dream is the idea that life would be better and fuller for those who had a purpose and an income. In The Grapes Of Wrath and The Harvest Gypsies, John Steinbeck uses imagery, pathos, other rhetorical devices, and figurative language to portray that the Joad family and other migrant

Rose of Sharon describes her dream to Ma and Connie when they finally make it to California. She describes it as if, “he [Connie] tore a page out of Western Love Stories,” (Steinbeck 224, Grapes). The idea that she wants her life to be similar to a “Western love story” adds comedic relief to the stressful journey of the Joads. Rose of Sharon’s idea of when she makes it to California shows how the American Dream can differ from person to person, but most people use the same outline as owning a home and making money, and then make adjustments to personalize the overall dream. Before the Joads left, Ma was skeptical about going to California because she felt there wouldn’t be any work. Ma described her worries and thoughts to Tom and he described California as the family, “bein’ in the nicest places,” (Steinbeck 124, Grapes). Tom’s description of what he thinks California will be like involves lots of oranges and fruit. The idea of oranges specifically symbolizes success throughout the novel. Tom doesn’t know exactly what California will be like since he hasn’t been there yet, but he hopes for the