Jean-Paul Sartre once said, “I was not the one to invent lies: they were created in a society divided by class and each of us inherited lies when we were born. It is not by refusing to lie that we will abolish lies: it is by eradicating class by any means necessary.” Class systems have become a staple in modern day life. It is difficult to think of a world equal on monetary value. In Steinbeck’s work, The Grapes of Wrath, a strong negative connection is made between money and greed.
John Steinbeck begins his novel painting a picture of the drought: thick clouds of dust block out the sun, and families like the Joad’s are fearful of slipping deeper into destitution, whether it was about money or hope. Readers are introduced to Tom Joad, a newly …show more content…
Some may argue a market economy, in order to ensure benefits for all, is a tool used to advance society by trading goods for money. However, people like Michael Sandel fear that the market has become less of a tool and more of “a way of life in which market values seep into every aspect of human endeavor. It’s a place where social relations are made over in the image of the market,” (Sandel, 10-11) Sandel explains in his book What Money Can’t Buy. People like Tom are punished by the expanding wage gap. The gap continues to expand as people get more desperate for work while the elite want more …show more content…
The interesting part however, is that Silk is African American himself. This may not be just the fact he does not want a cop out type of rebuttal or whether or not this is socially wrong, it could also be about class. The reader learns about how in Silk’s short boxing career, Silk had the opportunity to get a four-year scholarship as a box but, only if he could pass off as white. His trainer, Doc Chizer, “told Coleman not to mention that he was colored... ‘if nothing comes up you don’t bring it up,” (Roth, 98.) Silk is somewhat ashamed of his race, he knows in the reality he lives in whites have the advantage so he takes it. Silk does not want to be judged based on race, he argues race is a loose and imprecise social construct, one that we should disregard and discard. This is another example of someone trying to escape the socioeconomic normality of their time. Coleman wants and is an intellectual, however he is a classics professor. Since humans are so quick to generalize and judge, this generates stereotypes. He does not want to deal with race as another factor in his “social portfolio” he just wants to be normal. He may also see reason people may look down on him for his background. Due to the trend of Africans in poorer economic conditions he may not want to be linked with that. Humans often forget
John Steinbeck begins his novel painting a picture of the drought: thick clouds of dust block out the sun, and families like the Joad’s are fearful of slipping deeper into destitution, whether it was about money or hope. Readers are introduced to Tom Joad, a newly …show more content…
Some may argue a market economy, in order to ensure benefits for all, is a tool used to advance society by trading goods for money. However, people like Michael Sandel fear that the market has become less of a tool and more of “a way of life in which market values seep into every aspect of human endeavor. It’s a place where social relations are made over in the image of the market,” (Sandel, 10-11) Sandel explains in his book What Money Can’t Buy. People like Tom are punished by the expanding wage gap. The gap continues to expand as people get more desperate for work while the elite want more …show more content…
The interesting part however, is that Silk is African American himself. This may not be just the fact he does not want a cop out type of rebuttal or whether or not this is socially wrong, it could also be about class. The reader learns about how in Silk’s short boxing career, Silk had the opportunity to get a four-year scholarship as a box but, only if he could pass off as white. His trainer, Doc Chizer, “told Coleman not to mention that he was colored... ‘if nothing comes up you don’t bring it up,” (Roth, 98.) Silk is somewhat ashamed of his race, he knows in the reality he lives in whites have the advantage so he takes it. Silk does not want to be judged based on race, he argues race is a loose and imprecise social construct, one that we should disregard and discard. This is another example of someone trying to escape the socioeconomic normality of their time. Coleman wants and is an intellectual, however he is a classics professor. Since humans are so quick to generalize and judge, this generates stereotypes. He does not want to deal with race as another factor in his “social portfolio” he just wants to be normal. He may also see reason people may look down on him for his background. Due to the trend of Africans in poorer economic conditions he may not want to be linked with that. Humans often forget