Prejudice In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Throughout history, authors utilize the written word to either expose grievous faults within society or celebrate the feats of society. John Steinbeck is certainly no exception as he has constructed many pieces which serve to enlighten the audience on the accomplishments and faults of society. The novel, The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck attempts to expose faults within society which include prejudice and the overwhelming desire for greed. He does so through his use of allusions, diction, and characterization.

John Steinbeck in the novel, The Grapes of Wrath, attempts to expose one of society’s most detrimental flaws--prejudice through the use of repetition and characterization. The Grapes of Wrath depicts prejudice in a unique

They gonna look at you an’ their face says, ‘I don’t like you, you son of a b****’...You never been called ‘Okie’ yet...Now it means you’re a dirty son of a b****. Okie means you’re scum.” Steinbeck uses the tenant farmer’s dialogue to inform the reader that prejudice is certainly apparent in California and convey that such hatred will hinder the tenant farmers. Furthermore, prejudice of the tenant farmers does not only belittle them, it also negatively impacts as it begins to interfere with their survival. This is primarily depicted as Steinbeck states, “ Did you see his face when we kicked them turnips out? Why, he'd kill a fella soon's he'd look at him. We got to keep these here people down or they'll take the country. They'll take the country. Outlanders, foreigners.” Steinbeck uses the deputies action and dialogue in order to depict the common views of Californians. Moreover, Steinbeck shows how prejudice affects the farmers’ survival as they are not able to obtain food to feed their own family. Additionally, Steinbeck exclaims “They had nothing. And the laboring people hated Okies because a hungry man must work, and if he must work, if he has to work, the wage payer automatically gives him less for his work; and

Greed is certainly evident in The Grapes of Wrath and divides society greatly. Steinbeck condemns the landowners as he states that their overwhelming desire for more wealth creates hardships for the migrant farmers and divides society. Steinbeck states, “If you who own the things people must have could understand this, you might preserve yourself. If you could separate causes from results, if you could know that Paine, Marx, Jefferson, Lenin, were results, not causes, you might survive. But that you cannot know. For the quality of owning freezes you forever into "I," and cuts you off forever from the "we." Steinbeck makes allusions to several revolutionary leaders which protested for different ideas. Furthermore, Steinbeck is implying that these men were not causes but results of all the injustice in which they saw society endure. He makes it clear that the landowners who are obsessed with obtaining more land are not able to unite and such will lead to their demise. In addition, Steinbeck states, “And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds