From Europe colonizing America to the Atlantic Slave Trade, migrations have been defining moments in world history-- the travels of the farmers depicted in John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath are no exception. Steinbeck aims to detail the mass migration of Midwest farmers to the West during Dust Bowl of the 1930s for a worldwide audience. In this narrative a symbolic, classic piece of American literature is formed. The author expresses his sympathy and compassion for these weary travelers. Through the emotional and arduous journey of desperate and tired farmers, Steinbeck ultimately portrays to the readers his response and attitude towards the burdens and hindrances they are forced to face.
The migrants are in “carloads, caravans, homeless and hungry”(233) as the search …show more content…
Consequently, Steinbeck's emotions are clear: the migrant families held little control over their situation and were stuck without a glimmer of hope. In their naive thoughts imagery of the “little golden oranges”(234) in southern California are the farmers’ sole salvation, but a despairing Steinbeck harshly reveals the reality of the situation. This fruit will never be touched. Subsequently, the farmers discover there “ain’t no vegetable nor chickens”(235) but rather a single product only useful to make money not feed families. This fact reflects on the capitalism brutally encountered by the migrants that Steinbeck reveals in parallelism to voice his anger. The original denizens of California “got guns,”(236) an example of cacophony, to fight against the invading farmers and protect their selfish interests. An irate Steinbeck seems to note the defenseless, weary, weak farmers who face the intense hatred of the locals. Hence, due to the growing fear of a loss of control the author summarizes with a short aphorism. Westerns desired to “scare ‘em”(236) off of their lands like previous immigrants, a policy that justifies Steinbeck’s wrathful attitude towards those who hate
The migrants are in “carloads, caravans, homeless and hungry”(233) as the search …show more content…
Consequently, Steinbeck's emotions are clear: the migrant families held little control over their situation and were stuck without a glimmer of hope. In their naive thoughts imagery of the “little golden oranges”(234) in southern California are the farmers’ sole salvation, but a despairing Steinbeck harshly reveals the reality of the situation. This fruit will never be touched. Subsequently, the farmers discover there “ain’t no vegetable nor chickens”(235) but rather a single product only useful to make money not feed families. This fact reflects on the capitalism brutally encountered by the migrants that Steinbeck reveals in parallelism to voice his anger. The original denizens of California “got guns,”(236) an example of cacophony, to fight against the invading farmers and protect their selfish interests. An irate Steinbeck seems to note the defenseless, weary, weak farmers who face the intense hatred of the locals. Hence, due to the growing fear of a loss of control the author summarizes with a short aphorism. Westerns desired to “scare ‘em”(236) off of their lands like previous immigrants, a policy that justifies Steinbeck’s wrathful attitude towards those who hate