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

The Grapes of Wrath

by John Steinbeck

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The Grapes of Wrath Questions on Despair

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The Grapes of Wrath

Ma's burning of the stationery box in The Grapes of Wrath illustrates the despair and sacrifice of migrant families. It shows their need to leave behind everything, including sentimental items, to...

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The Grapes of Wrath

Muley Graves is not one of the major characters in the novel, but he is a significant character nonetheless. He is significant because he helps to drive a part of the plot and because he helps to...

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The Grapes of Wrath

At the Joad's camp at the Hooper Ranch, life was difficult. The people running the business were suspicious of them and money was scarce since they had to buy food in a store on the property. This...

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The Grapes of Wrath

The desert in The Grapes of Wrath symbolizes the loss of hope in America during the Great Depression. It reflects the desolation and barrenness of once fertile lands, paralleling the unfulfilled...

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