The intercalary chapters in "Grapes of Wrath" have a unique purpose in the novel. John Steinbeck describes these chapters as "a Greek chorus" that provide a wider perspective on the events that are happening in the main narrative. One intercalary chapter says, "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." This quote shows the overall theme of the novel, displaying the suffering and resilience of the people during the Great Depression. These intercalary chapters allow Steinbeck to represent the larger social, economic, and environmental context in which the Joad family's story develops, highlighting the nature of their struggle. These chapters provide an observation that was made …show more content…
Along the way, they face many challenges, such as poverty and the loss of loved ones. These difficulties take a toll on the family's relationships, as seen in the quote, "Families broke up and the rate of divorce increased." The struggle for survival and their circumstances being unpredictable puts a strain on their bonds, leading to conflicts and other things which lead to the disintegration of their family. The economic decline caused the breakdown of the Joads’ previously close family. This shows the impact of poverty and the rough things people went through during that time. At the beginning of the novel, Tom Joad is primarily concerned with his own survival and the well-being of his family. But as he witnesses the injustice and suffering that other migrant workers go through, his perspective starts to change. Tom's encounter with the former preacher, Jim Casy, played a major role in his transformation. Casy's ideas about the connections of all people and collective action are important to Tom. This is shown in the quote, "I been thinking about us, too, about our people living like pigs and good rich land layin'