The Grapes of Wrath - Question 1

What does the writing reveal about the authors values and attitudes?

First of all, I would just like to say that this book was very boring. Since this is a blog, I feel that I am allowed to state my opinions on the book as well as answer the questions. The story was essentially about nothing. It was very long and dry and I was not happy with the ending. It really did not satisfy my curiosity in the story. Now that I got that out of my system, I can actually answer the questions.

Steinbeck published the story in 1939, just after the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, and the story covers both of those two events in history. Since Steinbeck was a part of both of those events, he was able to clearly convey them in his story. The story may only tell the tale of a family of tenant farmers traveling across the United States in search of the glory land known as "California," but it also teaches about human nature and how people can react in beautiful ways in the most treacherous times. The family experienced so many hardships, such as when Granma and Grampa both die and when Rose of Sharon's husband left her, but they all kept a positive attitude about life and made the best of things. Many times, people told Tom that things were not better in California, but he chose not to listen to them. He did what he thought was right for his family and he kept on pushing towards California. He made the best of his awful situation. Steinbeck must have believed in faith. Tom had faith that life would be better in California, and he sacrificed many things to find out. He may have gotten nervous a few times, but he never once doubted his decision to head West to find jobs. Steinbeck must a have also believed in courage, and portrayed that in his writing. Tom must have been scared to leave everything to go to California. He even sold everything that was not important to him before they left. But he had the courage to continue on and make his way to California.

Steinbeck, John, and Robert J. DeMott. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.