The Grapes of Wrath Group

Question:

high
high
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What page is this quote on?

When the farmer threatened to shoot him the boy said it would do no good; another tractor driver would be pushing the house down even before the farmer was surely hanged for shooting him.

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Posted by high on Monday March 23, 2009 at 2:47 PM and tagged with quote, the grapes of wrath.

Answers:


  1. luannw Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    In the Penguin Books, 1997 edition, the passage you are referencing is on page 49.  It's a conversation between the young driver of the tractor - Joe Davis's boy - and the tenant farmer.  The tractor driver is explaining that he is just doing a job. He has to eat and provide for his family and the landowner is paying him a liveable wage to do the job, but it is only a job to the driver.  He goes on to tell the farmer who is threatening him with a gun, that it isn't his fault the tenant system has died out and that if the farmer shoots him, not only will the landowner simply replace him as a driver, the farmer will get arrested and sent to prison.  The tractor driver is speaking the truth and the farmer is left frustrated with anger and helplessness.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/grapes/chapters-1-6-summary-analysis
    http://www.enotes.com/grapes/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/grapes/themes

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    Posted by luannw on Tuesday March 24, 2009 at 4:35 AM