Themes Of The Joad Family In The Grapes Of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath

In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck presents many themes. The theme that is most strongly communicated through the journey of the Joad family is the people who are in need are the most likely to help others. Steinbeck offers this theme in three ways: allowing the use of an object (sharing), giving away items they may need in the future, and showing there is power in numbers.

People who don’t have a lot seem to be more willing to share what they do have. On page 136 of The Grapes of Wrath, Sairy Wilson said “ ‘How’d you like ta come in our tent?...You kin lay down on our mattress an’ rest’.” The Wilsons didn’t know anything about the Joad family, but they allowed the Joads to put Grandpa Joad on

“Pa...dug two crushed bills from it. He went to Wilson and held them out. ‘We want you should take this an’,’ he pointed to the pork and potatoes- ‘an’ that’ (Steinbeck 220).” Pa gave away money and food that the Joad family could’ve used in the near future. He gave it to the Wilsons because they didn’t have anything left. On page 445, Mrs. Wainwright states: “ ‘No need to thank. Ever’body’s in the same wagon. S’pose we was down. You’d a give us a han’.’” At that point Rose of Sharon was having her baby. Mrs. Wainwright helped Ma Joad deliver the baby who wasn’ alive when the young girl went into labor. If a poor man can help another while they are together, they will do it no matter what the circumstance

Willie, a guy at the government camp, brought up a conversation about why the deputies don’t go into the camp and push the people out like they do in the Hoovervilles. He explains, “ ‘I’ll tell ya. It’s cause we’re all a-workin’ together. Depity can’t pick on the whole darn camp. An’ he don’t dare. All we got to do is give a yell an’ they’s two hundred men out... Jus’ stick together. They ain’t raisin’ hell with no two hundred men. They’re pickin’ on one man’(Steinbeck 357).” What Willie conveys to the reader is that there is not any power in only one person, but in a multitude. If one migrant stands alone against a deputy, he will go to jail; but if two hundred men go against, the deputy will leave them alone. Tom Joad tries to remember what Casy, the preacher, told him a while back about how when there is a greater amount of people, they are better off. He says, “ ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lif’ up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up... Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him, and a three-fold cord is not quickly broken’(Steinbeck 418).” Those who are in need help each other up so they aren’t drowning. They don’t let