The Grapes of Wrath is a renowned American classic written by the author John Steinbeck, a man who lived during the time of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. The title was discovered by his wife, Carol, in a popular song called “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by Julia Ward Howe. Encompassed by two major, reoccurring themes, the book depicts tales that demonstrate man-to-man brutality and the companionship of people during times of great struggle. He illustrates these intense topics with both broad characterizations and with the example of the Joads, a family experiencing the effects of the Dust Bowl firsthand. In the beginning of the novel, Steinbeck uses imagery to describe both the physical and physiological effects of the Dust Bowl.
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Steinbeck manages to show a large amount of unforgettable characters in the space of one chapter by using a few prominent traits for each one. For example, Rose of Sharon, Tom’s sister, is pregnant and mysterious. Her pregnancy is symbolic of the hope of new life because “you can’t start. Only a baby can start. You and me- why, we’re all that’s been” (87). However, at the end of the book when Rose of Sharon gives birth to a stillborn baby, this promise of new beginnings seems broken. After it is born, Uncle John is asked to bury it, but instead he sends it down the river, saying, “Go down an’ tell ‘em. Go down in the street and rot an’ tell ‘em that way. That’s the way you can talk” (448). This action resembles Moses being sent down the river to escape the killing of all Hebrew boys and therefore fulfilling his legacy of leading the Hebrews out of slavery in the …show more content…
Throughout the Joad’s exodus to the West, Steinbeck rotates back and forth from the family’s trip to larger picture concepts. He also uses numerous references to the bible, drawing inspiration from the story of the Hebrews escaping the wrath of the pharaoh in Egypt. Other symbols are also used, such as a turtle, and are laced with figurative language, like imagery, metaphors, personification, and similes. This book captures the interest of millions of readers with its appalling frankness and subtle elegance. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience America’s history through the eyes of those who went through
Steinbeck manages to show a large amount of unforgettable characters in the space of one chapter by using a few prominent traits for each one. For example, Rose of Sharon, Tom’s sister, is pregnant and mysterious. Her pregnancy is symbolic of the hope of new life because “you can’t start. Only a baby can start. You and me- why, we’re all that’s been” (87). However, at the end of the book when Rose of Sharon gives birth to a stillborn baby, this promise of new beginnings seems broken. After it is born, Uncle John is asked to bury it, but instead he sends it down the river, saying, “Go down an’ tell ‘em. Go down in the street and rot an’ tell ‘em that way. That’s the way you can talk” (448). This action resembles Moses being sent down the river to escape the killing of all Hebrew boys and therefore fulfilling his legacy of leading the Hebrews out of slavery in the …show more content…
Throughout the Joad’s exodus to the West, Steinbeck rotates back and forth from the family’s trip to larger picture concepts. He also uses numerous references to the bible, drawing inspiration from the story of the Hebrews escaping the wrath of the pharaoh in Egypt. Other symbols are also used, such as a turtle, and are laced with figurative language, like imagery, metaphors, personification, and similes. This book captures the interest of millions of readers with its appalling frankness and subtle elegance. I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to experience America’s history through the eyes of those who went through