Humanitys Journey in Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay

Humanitys Journey in Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath As a major literary figure since the 1930s, Steinbeck displays in his writing a characteristic respect for the poor and oppressed. In many of his novels, his characters show signs of a quiet dignity and courage for which Steinbeck has a great admiration. For instance, in The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck describes the unrelenting struggle of the people who depend on the soil for their livelihood. One element helping give this novel an added touch of harmony is Steinbeck’s ability to bind these two ideas into one story: the never ending struggle to survive and primacy of the family. The journey of the Joads serves as a suitable vehicle for the delivery of Steinbecks message and†¦show more content†¦The never say die efforts of Uncle John to stop the rising flood water is one example of Steinbecks unremitting struggle theme (Steinbeck 567). The constant effort of the entire Joad family to find work, although poor, oppressed, and hungry, shows that Steinbeck wants to show their tremendous courage and dignity. In this way, Steinbeck is able to use the journey structure to describe these fine qualities he sees and respects in the poverty-stricken masses of his time. If one reads more deeply into The Grapes of Wrath, the reader may find that the journey of the Joads mirrors the journeys of other Okies and other forced migrations in history. The journey of the Joads has its ups and downs. Migrants are not always received with open arms; they are commonly persecuted and looked upon as subhuman. For them the promised land becomes the land of despair and suffering. While exposing the ordeal of their poverty, Steinbeck also seeks to affirm the sanctity of life and the unifying, clarifying forces inherent in human suffering (Wilson 529). In many ways, the journey of the Africans to America as slaves is similar to the dust bowl migrations. Both are forced from the land that they love by seemingly non-human forces. They were taken to the land of riches where they were poor. The slaves were however taken by force but the Okies were seduced by the lure of work andShow MoreRelatedThe Grapes of Wrath - Journey of the Joads and Humanity Essay777 Words   |  4 Pages The Journey of the Joads and the Journey of Humanity nbsp; In Steinbecks novel, The Grapes of Wrath, he describes the struggle of the small farmer and farmworker. The principal characters define quiet dignity and courage in their struggle to survive and in the caring for their loved ones. Through this novel, Steinbeck displays his respect for all the poor and oppressed of our world. nbsp; The journey of the Joads represents Steinbecks message of respect for the poor and oppressed onRead MoreThe Grapes of Wrath Synthesis Essay891 Words   |  4 Pagestowards each other. It has happened so much so, that some have argued human nature is intrinsically violent and aggressive. This can be seen in chapter 25 of The Grapes of Wrath: the mindless destruction of resources ultimately amounts to nothing productive. In his novel, Steinbeck expresses harsh criticism and disapproval toward humanity’s self-destructive and violent nature. Man’s cruelty to his fellow man, a major theme in the book, is very clearly addressed in chapter 25: â€Å"And men with hosesRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book Grapes Of Wrath 1436 Words   |  6 PagesTyler Jordan Ms. Mittleman Honors American Lit. September 14, 2014 â€Å"Humanity’s Wrathful Curtain† In his historical fiction, Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck characterizes the Joad family as one of the many migrating farming families subjected to prejudice and seclusion on their journey to California. Similarly, in T.C. Boyle’s Tortilla Curtain, Cà ¡ndido and Amà ©rica are victims of animosity and discrimination after fleeing their homes in Mexico to seek a better life in Los Angeles. In their stories