Dust Storms In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

The first major stream of farmers wandered into the Southern Plains lured by the lush greenery and vast expanse of farmland. The farmers overlooked the vicious cycle of rain and drought and aggressively exploited every inch of land to make profit. However, in the 1930’s, the rain ceased to pour and stopped replenishing the dry farmlands. The dusty storms started all throughout the plains of Oklahoma and Texas as well as the borders of the southern flatlands. Powerful dust storms carried tons of black dirt that took years to cultivate and build through hard work and dedication, all gone in an instant. The winds easily picked up loose topsoil and recurrent “black blizzards” blocked out the sun and casted most of the plains in darkness. The farmers did everything to protect themselves and their families but the dust bowl drove out approximately 60% of the population. …show more content…
The state of California seemed like paradise with the sunshine and the job opportunities for the travelers or so stated the posters that were flying around in the dust storms. The Great Depression changed the lives of people who lived and farmed on the Great Plains, especially for the men who had been born, raised, and were willing to die there. The farms held treasured moments of success as well as failure. The Joad family were distraught and at a loss as to what to do after the diminishing areas were taken from them by the government. Gender roles were a huge part of the novel “Grapes of Wrath”. This novel illustrated how women can have more power and strength in times of catastrophic