The Grapes of Wrath is a novel set in the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era which has remained the definition of the era. In Keith Windschuttle’s “Steinbeck’s Myth of the Okies,” he argues and writes that The Grapes of Wrath is historically inaccurate - either being grossly exaggerated or entirely false. In his essay, Windschuttle examines and critically analyzes the image Steinbeck creates to define the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era. First, Windschuttle analyzes the effects the Great Depression and Dust Bowl had on the land of Oklahoma and its population. He explains that the dust storms did not affect Sallisaw, Oklahoma - the area where the Joads lived - since very little farmland in Oklahoma was affected. Windschuttle claims this
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In this piece of classic literature, Steinbeck utilizes such beautiful and descriptive imagery to portray an accurate account of the worker’s livelihood. Unlike what the author of “Steinbeck’s myth of the Okies” believes, I believe that Steinbeck’s writings are historically correct and authentic. Not only has this novel surpassed the test of time and remained a definition of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, but also has impacted many readers worldwide. In my opinion this novel is extremely interesting and I would definitely recommend it to anyone, albeit it was a little tedious to read at points. Regardless of its slow-moving plot, the storyline had intense meaning and many literary devices are used to express that meaning. This novel properly educates people about the lifestyle of the migrant workers, their thoughts and actions, and the realities of their struggles. His use of contrapuntal structure, alternating between lyrical and poetic chapters and the Joad family narrative, helps to expose perspective in the world surrounding the Joad family. His captivating writing style is symphonic since he is able to intertwine such beautiful imagery and symbolism with such a tough subject. This writing style easily engrossed me and made me feel as if I was the one experiencing these situations. The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, is a truly captivating novel and surpasses the standards as a definition of an
In this piece of classic literature, Steinbeck utilizes such beautiful and descriptive imagery to portray an accurate account of the worker’s livelihood. Unlike what the author of “Steinbeck’s myth of the Okies” believes, I believe that Steinbeck’s writings are historically correct and authentic. Not only has this novel surpassed the test of time and remained a definition of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, but also has impacted many readers worldwide. In my opinion this novel is extremely interesting and I would definitely recommend it to anyone, albeit it was a little tedious to read at points. Regardless of its slow-moving plot, the storyline had intense meaning and many literary devices are used to express that meaning. This novel properly educates people about the lifestyle of the migrant workers, their thoughts and actions, and the realities of their struggles. His use of contrapuntal structure, alternating between lyrical and poetic chapters and the Joad family narrative, helps to expose perspective in the world surrounding the Joad family. His captivating writing style is symphonic since he is able to intertwine such beautiful imagery and symbolism with such a tough subject. This writing style easily engrossed me and made me feel as if I was the one experiencing these situations. The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, is a truly captivating novel and surpasses the standards as a definition of an