Illustration of the back a man in a hat and overalls looking towards the farmland

The Grapes of Wrath

by John Steinbeck

Start Free Trial

The Grapes of Wrath Questions on Great Depression

The Grapes of Wrath Study Tools

Take a quiz Ask a question Start an essay

The Grapes of Wrath

In The Grapes of Wrath, the bank symbolizes a lifeless, machine-like force devoid of humanity, dictating the fate of small farmers during the Great Depression. Farmers are powerless against these...

4 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

When a person owns land, the land becomes part of that person. If a man owns the land and works it, then the man and land become one entity. However, if someone buys the property without working it...

1 educator answer

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck's writing style in The Grapes of Wrath is characterized by its use of social realism. He employs vivid descriptions and authentic dialogue to depict the struggles of the Joad family...

13 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

The message in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath emphasizes solidarity and compassion amidst hardship. Drawing biblical parallels, Steinbeck uses the Joad family's journey to symbolize a quest for...

6 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

Mr. Thomas is the farmer who Tom works for briefly when he and the rest of the Joad family first arrive at Weedpatch, the government camp.  Tom gets a job there because Tim and Wilkie Wallace...

1 educator answer

The Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck's purpose in The Grapes of Wrath is to highlight the struggles of migrant workers during the Great Depression. Specific chapters, such as the intercalary chapters, provide broader social...

1 educator answer

The Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck's overall message to humanity is about the ability to transform reality.  Steinbeck uses Tom Joad to show how someone who is self- exiled, seeking to not look after anything other...

3 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck's political motives in writing The Grapes of Wrath were to highlight the plight of migrant workers during the Great Depression, criticize the socio-economic injustices they faced, and...

5 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses symbolism and imagery to reflect the harsh realities of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. In the opening, the covered sky symbolizes both natural and...

3 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

The symbolic value of the desert represents the lack of hope in America at the time.  When I see the desert and Dust Bowl conditions presented, I see areas that were once fertile and vibrant...

1 educator answer

The Grapes of Wrath

Tom Joad and Ma Joad come to the poignant realization that where they once were a single unit as a family, clearly defined geographically and economically, once they get out on the road and become...

3 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

The social context of The Grapes of Wrath is the Great Depression in the United States. The poor white farmers, who had lived and worked on their farms for many generations, were being forced off...

1 educator answer

The Grapes of Wrath

In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck explores themes of hope, class conflict, family strength, and hard work amid the Great Depression. Hope is central, as the Joad family continually finds small...

15 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath was inspired by the plight of migrant workers during the Great Depression. Steinbeck traveled to migrant camps and observed the harsh conditions firsthand, which...

3 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

Steinbeck grew up in the Salinas River Valley.  He was a ranchhand himself, and he worked with many migrant workers.  So, he knew the California working class experience first-hand. He...

2 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, set in the 1930s, captures the struggles during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. The novel begins by illustrating the harsh conditions in Oklahoma, compelling...

3 educator answers

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck explores society's restlessness through the Joad family's forced migration due to economic, environmental, and technological changes, highlighting the...

3 educator answers