ipl-logo

Realism In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

541 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The grapes of wrath analysis

The dust bowl and the Great Depression devastated the American people, although the pain and suffering endured by the affected is far beyond that of which words can describe, John Steinbeck provided us with the closest thing we can get. The novel, The Grapes of Wrath, was written in an attempt to provide a realistic description of the people in the time period following the roaring twenties. Realism played a huge role in The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck studied these people in hoovervilles and he just wanted to tell their stories. In The Grapes of Wrath realism is used consistently and effectively especially throughout the chapters one through fifteen. The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family through their journey west to california for jobs and a better life, but as the story goes on the life they dream of slowly grows farther and farther from reality, however even though …show more content…

“To the red country and part of the gray country of Oklahoma” (Steinbeck 1). In the beginning of the novel the land is dying and this is known from page one with the color red (symbolizing blood) falls into being gray and it being drained from the land, which in turn is killing it. This is a form of realism because during the time of the great depression there was also the dust bowl going on which completely devastated the farming communities and caused them to want to leave to california, which is exactly what the Joad family did to try and avoid their demise. During this time period hundreds of farmers were losing their farms to the banks but the people had no one to confront about the changes happening to their lives. “The Bank- or the Company - needs -

Show More
Related
1639 Words | 7 Pages

During the great depression, the midwest underwent a long drought. Exposed dry earth swept away with the wind and caused huge dust storms that prolonged the dry weather. With the lowered selling prices and the lack of crops the farmers had some major economic trouble. In Black Blizzard and John Steinbeck 's Grapes of Wrath, the literature develops the ideas of the poor distribution of wealth within the populations and the social aspects of people of different economic class. Social differences arise in the wealthy, the employed, and the unemployed throughout this period of hardship.

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

John Steinbeck has been a pillar of American literature for decades. His work, especially Grapes of Wrath and The Harvest Gypsies, helped to shed light on some of the issues that plagued California, and the rest of the United States during the Great Depression. His works accentuate the theme of the importance of community, especially when those with the power to help don 't. These novels take place during the Great Depression, a time when there were very few jobs, little stability, widespread poverty, and diminished hopes for the future. This era sets the stage on which these stories take place. During these harsh times, many people turned to the government or banks for help, but they were turned down by the banks because they wanted a profit, or they bankrupted, and the government 's resources were stretched so low they could only help few people.

Read More
294 Words | 2 Pages

The tone of chapter 11 in John Steinbeck's, “The Grapes of Wrath,” is sympathetic, sad and hopeless. His word choice and syntax show how the sad houses were left to decay in the weather. His use of descriptive words paints a picture in the reader's mind. As each paragraph unfolds, new details come to life and adds to the imagery. While it may seem unimportant, this intercalary chapter shows how the effects of the great depression affected common households.

Read More
1357 Words | 6 Pages

Should Friar Lawrence face legal and social consequences to his actions? Yes, he should. Not only did Friar Lawrence not tell Romeo and Juliet’s parents at the end when it was too late. He also married Romeo and Juliet in secret, gave Juliet a vial which is considered a drug and lastly made a plan that was not well planned out and even though Friar Lawrence got what he wanted but it wasn’t in the way he planned, because the kids that he used both ended up dead at the end and he only ended up telling the parent when the church was at risk.

Read More
498 Words | 2 Pages

In between each narrative chapter of The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck wrote intercalary chapters to add to the narrative. These sixteen chapters were a very effective way for Steinbeck to make his points, and progress the theme of the novel. The intercalary chapters were a wise way to summarize the entire struggle of the suffering people during the dust bowl. They showed how Joad family was one example of the millions of families who migrated to California during the dust bowl, and the general rage and resistance felt in the innocent farmers, brought on by rich privileged men who gain their power from the unstoppable big banks. These chapters strengthen my knowledge of the struggles of the time, and give me more information of what is not seen from the Joad’s struggles alone.

Read More
652 Words | 3 Pages

The Grapes of Wrath is a novel about a family living in Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the era of the Great Depression. They are driven off their land and decided to travel to California in search of jobs, land, and a better life. However California was not what they excepted it to be. Ma Joad is the most resilient and strongest character in the story.

Read More
1717 Words | 7 Pages

The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck's award winning book based on the lives of people during the, Great Depression, The Grapes of Wrath, has experienced a lot of criticism since its release in 1939. From the time it was published all the way up until present times, some people have found much at fault in this realist book, while other people recognize that their are many true parts of Steinbeck's book. Many people consider this book to be Steinbeck's greatest piece of work, while the overall response to it was good, there was some negative outlooks on a few aspects of the books. The Grapes of Wrath began in Oklahoma, starring the Joad family who were attempting to get to California where they had hope to begin their new life after leaving

Read More
749 Words | 3 Pages

In the book The Grapes of Wrath, it portrays many of the experiences being lived in the Great Depression and the Dust bowl. But, it also portrays some of the many lives being lived in the modern age today. The book makes a powerful draw to many of the readers due to the fact that America was once in this position; that almost every family was in this position during the Great Depression. Even today in the modern age, most of readers have been through the struggles of trying to survive or what their family members had to do for a better life. The book gives a lot of connection and shows deep meaning that people understand the most.

Read More
1255 Words | 6 Pages

While an open form of dialogue emphasizes a connection and openness of situation it also lacks a specific aspect that can make it hard to understand. This lack of information is balanced with the Joad family whose interactions give more depth to Steinbeck’s representation of the Great Depression. The balance between a broader and specific description and portrayal of experiences create a more complete story that has a better chance of connecting with the

Read More
953 Words | 4 Pages

Since the book came out in 1939, everyone has had a opinion on the ending to John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. It has a very controversial ending, that Steinbeck thought would name the last nail into the coffin, so to speak, on how bad the dust bowl and moving west really was. The ending starts when the Joad family is threatened with a flood, so they make their way to a old barn where they find a boy and his old father. The boy says his father is starving, and that he can’t keep anything solid down. He needs something like soup or milk.

Read More
1880 Words | 8 Pages

Intercalary Chapter Literary Analysis During the Great Depression, the nation as a whole was stripped of financial security and forced into a survivalist way of living. This changed the ways that people interacted with one another and the overall mentality of society. In the Grapes of Wrath, the Joad family is torn from their land and find themselves with nothing, a common story for migrant farmers of that time, derogatorily called “Okies” by Californians. But this is not the only group that is struggling, the entire county was in a state of panic and bruteness, no matter how “well off” they seemed to be.

Read More
451 Words | 2 Pages

Grapes of Wrath show the unfair working situations that migrants face when they arrive in California. Land Owners are the most wealthy and powerful having the ability to pay their workers a poor wage. In the Grapes of Wrath, many Americans lose their homes, jobs and life savings, forcing them to move and leave behind their land in hopes of finding a prosperous place to live. The Great Depression (1929-1939) was the worst, deepest and longest lasting economic collapses in the industrialized western world. The Joad family is planning to move to California, but some of them have doubts and attachments that make them contemplate whether or not it is the right choice.

Read More
168 Words | 1 Pages

In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck follows the Joad family as they suffer the hardships caused by the Dust Bowl in the 1930’s. The most important lesson people can learn from the novel is the value of a human life. Although the 1930’s was a low point in American society, the ill-treatment of human beings is still relevant today. Just like Jim Casy’s philosophy, it is important to fight for the rights of the people and their dignity. There are several examples of oppression in The Grapes of wrath.

Read More
589 Words | 3 Pages

Prompt #6 The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, is a story of the Joad family and their travels west. The setting of Steinbeck 's novel is the Great Depression in Oklahoma. During this time, a long period of drought and high winds affected large parts of the Midwest, including much of Oklahoma, creating what was called the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck uses different elements and narrative styles to endow his novel with a powerful sense of realism and authenticity.

Read More
487 Words | 2 Pages

Through John Steinbeck's plot in The Grapes of Wrath,  the struggle of the typical American dreamer is depicted in the Joad’s attempt to move to California for a better life. While attempting this dream, the Joad family had to make multiple sacrifices. The first sacrifice occurs early on in their journey, the abandoning of their property (Steinbeck 59). This was extremely difficult for the Joads because they had lived on this land for a long time and they had many memories that had been created there.

Read More

More about Realism In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Related Topics

Open Document