The term “alienation” describes the event where an individual is excluded from a certain group or activity but should have rights to participation; one character in The Grapes of Wrath who faced alienation is Al Joad. In the novel, Al is described as a teenage boy who loves women and cars. Al, similar to the rest of the family, becomes classified as an Okie; according to the Californian landowners, Okies lack talent and drive. Al aspires to work in a garage to repair cars; consequently, his past living experiences impact his opportunity to do so. Those familiar with California prove judgmental in regards to the Okies. For example, Al Joad attempts to find a job after settling in a governmental camp with his family, but is denied a job because
