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Role Of Noncooperation In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

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“The danger is here, for two men are not as lonely and perplexed as one...This is the beginning--from ‘I’ to ‘we’” (158). The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is the epic journey of the Joad family to California, and the struggles of all kinds of people during the Dust Bowl. Throughout the novel, John Steinbeck provides a pervasive social commentary on the function of human cooperation and noncooperation. Characters like Tom, Ma, Jim Casy, and even the greedy businessmen demonstrate how important it is to work with others and not against them. Through the effectiveness and uniting power of cooperation and family ties during times of adversity in The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck conclusively illustrates that two is truly better than one. Also, when the Joads and Wilsons join together in a mutually beneficial relationship, they become much stronger through sharing than they would have otherwise. When Tom asks the Wilsons to come along with their family, Ma makes the point that they “‘won’t be no burden. Each’ll help each, an [they’ll] all get to California’...the relationship was plain” (155). In this section, Steinbeck is obviously outlining the benefits of cooperation because neither family …show more content…

Through the two families in the beginning relying on each other, the long spiritual rambles of Casy, and the inefficiency of greed versus the efficiency of cooperation, Steinbeck shows how there is strength and safety in numbers. By incorporating this theme so seamlessly into the story of Great Depression migrants, Steinbeck’s social protest holds an emotional appeal: he’s effectively attacking the way society works and the greed and isolation produced by competitive capitalism. The Grapes of Wrath is calling for a regression back to simpler times where people put family first and felt compassion for one

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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.

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Steinbeck’s uses the intercalary chapters to describe the migrant’s meaningful struggle. “Fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe”(p.205). Steinbeck uses this chapter to describe how the farmers may be dying of starvation, but they are dying for a cause that defines them, and will dye to save those they care for, in order to get what they deserve in the future. Humanity would not improve or grow stronger against evil if they gave up on fighting for their cause. Steinbeck uses this chapter to show the struggle and fight of all the people, and shows how the Joads too, are fighting toward a goal that mankind dying

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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.

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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.

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In Chapter Three of John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck explores the migrant workers’ journey, revealing that although foes and adversaries rail into them, both those with purpose to injure and those blind to their presence, shattering and flinging them off course, abrupt changes in their course cause no true harm; migrant workers come face to face with success at the close of their journey and ultimately they plant a seed, an idea, a revolution that will blossom along their voyage. Steinbeck establishes a metaphorical journey in Chapter Three, shaping the migrants as turtles, to hail them as the jewels of American society, and to reveal their true characteristics, which are usually muddled with dirty connotations and stereotypes.

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This story reveals all the difficulties and all of the suffering proceeding of many of the migrant laborers during the Great Depression and also the Dust Bowl. The novel by Steinbeck has been written to criticize many of the careless and self-interested people and overly important corporate and banking elites for trying to increase their profit policies that would ultimately force many of the farmers to suffer and go through major tribulations. Through these careless actions many of these farmers had to go through things such as starving. It is a very well written political piece, it describes the actions by the lower classes in a great way. As the Grape of Wrath begins, the Joad family is a very traditional family and the structure of the family is in which where the men make the decisions and the women do as they are told.

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The spirit of unity emerges as the one unfailing source of strength in Steinbeck’s novel. He tries and accomplishes in conveying it to the reader, through imagery. On multiple accounts,

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The Joads find their motivation by helping each other through tough situations. Steinbeck shows the determination of the human spirit

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In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, the chapters alternate between two perspectives of a story. One chapter focuses on the tenants as a whole, while the other chapter focuses specifically of a family of tenants, the Joads, and their journey to California. Chapter 5 is the former and Steinbeck does an excellent job of omniscient third person point of view to describe the situation. Chapter 5’s main idea is to set the conflict and let the readers make connections between Steinbeck’s alternating chapters with foreshadowing. Steinbeck is effectual in letting readers make connections both to the world and the text itself with the use of exposition, and symbolism.

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