Themes: Cruelty and Exploitation
The primary focus of The Grapes of Wrath is the harshness and cruelty humans impose on one another. The compassionate Joad family frequently endures suffering at the hands of wealthier individuals or those in positions of authority who misuse their power. It's not just the Joads; all the migrants are vulnerable to deceitful shopkeepers, uncaring employers, and their staff, who already have secure livelihoods. As the Joad family comes to understand that they must rely not only on their relatives but also on others facing similar hardships, Steinbeck conveys the message that all humans are brothers and deserve to be treated with dignity.
Expert Q&A
What links the Bank, the owners, the tractors, and the driver in The Grapes of Wrath?
The bank, owners, tractors, and drivers in The Grapes of Wrath are linked by their roles in the capitalist system that displaces farmers. Each entity contributes to the machinery of profit-driven eviction, dehumanizing individuals and destroying livelihoods. This "mathematics of profit" binds them, as they all participate in the relentless pursuit of profit, which ultimately crushes the farmers. The tractors, driven without emotion, serve as tools for the bank's profit motives.
In The Grapes of Wrath, what role does the bank play and what power do small farmers have against it?
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 institutions, which prioritize profit over human need, often leading to evictions. The bank's control over land and wages highlights its role as a dehumanized entity, perpetuating the farmers' hardships without personal accountability from those involved in the process.
What do "25-cent man", "20-cent man", and "15-cent man" mean in The Grapes of Wrath?
In The Grapes of Wrath, the terms "25-cent man," "20-cent man," and "15-cent man" refer to the wages workers are willing to accept during the Great Depression. These designations indicate men willing to work for 25, 20, or 15 cents an hour, respectively. Employers exploit the dire need for jobs by continually lowering wages, knowing that desperate workers will accept any pay offered, highlighting the economic exploitation of the era.
In The Grapes of Wrath, how does Steinbeck depict an individual confronting social injustice?
The criticism of capitalism in The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath criticizes capitalism by highlighting its dehumanizing effects on individuals and families. The novel portrays how the pursuit of profit leads to the exploitation and suffering of migrant workers, and how corporate greed results in widespread poverty and social injustice. Through the Joad family's struggles, Steinbeck condemns the lack of compassion and the moral failures inherent in a capitalist system.
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