The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath

An introductionAn introduction

““The Harvest Gypsies”The Harvest Gypsies”

► Seven newspaper Seven newspaper articles on migrant articles on migrant workers Steinbeck workers Steinbeck observed in 1936.observed in 1936.

► An eyewitness An eyewitness account of the account of the horrendous Dust horrendous Dust Bowl migration, a Bowl migration, a major event in major event in California and U.S. California and U.S. history.history.

““The Harvest Gypsies”The Harvest Gypsies”

► Steinbeck toured the Steinbeck toured the squatters’ camps and squatters’ camps and “Hoovervilles” of “Hoovervilles” of California.California.

► Found once strong, Found once strong, independent farmers so independent farmers so reduced in dignity, reduced in dignity, beaten in spirit, sick, beaten in spirit, sick, sullen, and defeated sullen, and defeated that they had been that they had been “cast down to a kind of “cast down to a kind of sub-humanity.”sub-humanity.”

““The Harvest Gypsies”The Harvest Gypsies”

► From 1935-’38, From 1935-’38, between 300,000 between 300,000 and 500,000 “Okies” and 500,000 “Okies” (migrant farmers (migrant farmers from Oklahoma, from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri) arrived and Missouri) arrived in California.in California.

► This provides the This provides the factual foundation factual foundation for for The Grapes of The Grapes of WrathWrath..

““The Grapes of Wrath”The Grapes of Wrath”

► Traces the story of the Traces the story of the fictional Joad family: fictional Joad family: typical farming family typical farming family forced off their land by forced off their land by drought and foreclosure drought and foreclosure during the Great during the Great Depression.Depression.

► It is a drama that is It is a drama that is “intensely human, yet “intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and majestic in its scale and moral vision…moral vision…ultimately, stirring in its ultimately, stirring in its insistence on human insistence on human dignity.”dignity.”

Pre-readingPre-reading► There are 16 “inter-chapters” in the novel (generally, the odd-There are 16 “inter-chapters” in the novel (generally, the odd-

numbered chapters, but not always).numbered chapters, but not always).► They help create a total picture by establishing the entire social They help create a total picture by establishing the entire social

conditions of which these characters are a part.conditions of which these characters are a part.► It would have been impossible to have the characters carry this It would have been impossible to have the characters carry this

entire load. These characters must be real, credible, and believable.entire load. These characters must be real, credible, and believable.► So these inter-chapters fill in the larger picture to give some So these inter-chapters fill in the larger picture to give some

historical perspective about the conditions that all of these migrants historical perspective about the conditions that all of these migrants faced, not just the Joads.faced, not just the Joads.

► For example, chapter 1 gives background on the Dust Bowl. Chapter For example, chapter 1 gives background on the Dust Bowl. Chapter 5 describes the process by which mortgaged lands are taken over by 5 describes the process by which mortgaged lands are taken over by the banks; farmers are evicted; and lands are combined into vast the banks; farmers are evicted; and lands are combined into vast holdings cultivated with modern machinery.holdings cultivated with modern machinery.

► However, everything included in the inter-chapters relates to the However, everything included in the inter-chapters relates to the events of the fictional story.events of the fictional story.

Pre-readingPre-reading

► We don’t get names of new We don’t get names of new characters in these characters in these chapters, but we get chapters, but we get “owners” and “tenants” “owners” and “tenants” doing real, dramatic things, doing real, dramatic things, rather than a rather than a straightforward lecture on straightforward lecture on how these things occurred.how these things occurred.

► These chapters also let These chapters also let Steinbeck work in his own Steinbeck work in his own statements, judgments, and statements, judgments, and denunciations of what is denunciations of what is occurring.occurring.

ThemesThemes

The bond between land and peopleThe bond between land and people

Effects of technologyEffects of technology

Casting off old waysCasting off old ways

The “human family”The “human family”

Government for the people and by the Government for the people and by the peoplepeople

EnduranceEndurance

““Grapes of Wrath”: AngerGrapes of Wrath”: Anger

Ten ValuesTen Values

1.1. An appreciation for our common An appreciation for our common humanityhumanity

2.2. Need to work together to achieve a Need to work together to achieve a common goalcommon goal

3.3. The need for compassion and justice for The need for compassion and justice for the oppressedthe oppressed

4.4. Importance of avoiding stereotypes and Importance of avoiding stereotypes and labelslabels

5.5. The need to share what we have with The need to share what we have with others, especially the poorothers, especially the poor

Ten valuesTen values

6. Importance of commitment to our 6. Importance of commitment to our beliefsbeliefs

7. A respect for our spiritual heritage7. A respect for our spiritual heritage

8. The realization that change is part of 8. The realization that change is part of the human conditionthe human condition

9. The importance of caring about the 9. The importance of caring about the earth and environmentearth and environment

10. An understanding of the role of 10. An understanding of the role of technology in our livestechnology in our lives

PurposePurpose

► This is a novel of social protest.This is a novel of social protest.►Designed to inform the public of migrant Designed to inform the public of migrant

workers’ plight.workers’ plight.► A plea for landowners of California and bankers A plea for landowners of California and bankers

in Dust Bowl states to be more tolerant.in Dust Bowl states to be more tolerant.► Shows how migrant workers were used so Shows how migrant workers were used so

bankers and California land owners could turn bankers and California land owners could turn a profit.a profit.

► Shows methods they used to cheat migrants Shows methods they used to cheat migrants and keep them from organizing.and keep them from organizing.

TitleTitle

► From “The Battle From “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”Hymn of the Republic”

► ““Mine eyes have seen Mine eyes have seen the glory of the the glory of the coming of the Lord; he coming of the Lord; he is trampling out the is trampling out the vintage where the vintage where the grapes of wrath are grapes of wrath are stored.”stored.”

► Title is a reference to Title is a reference to justice and retribution.justice and retribution.

The Dust Bowl: The Wrath of The Dust Bowl: The Wrath of NatureNature

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

► An ecological and An ecological and human disaster in human disaster in the 1930sthe 1930s

►Hit the Great Plains: Hit the Great Plains: primarily Kansas, primarily Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, New Mexico, ColoradoColorado

The CauseThe Cause

► Years of misuse of landYears of misuse of land► Sustained droughtSustained drought► Millions of acres rendered uselessMillions of acres rendered useless► Native Americans’ warning to “leave the grass Native Americans’ warning to “leave the grass

alone” ignoredalone” ignored

The FalloutThe Fallout

► As land dried up, As land dried up, great clouds of dust great clouds of dust and sand, carried by and sand, carried by wind, covered wind, covered everything: The everything: The “Dust Bowl” was “Dust Bowl” was born.born.

► In 1937 alone, 134 In 1937 alone, 134 dust storms dust storms recorded, creating recorded, creating “Black Blizzards.”“Black Blizzards.”

The human costThe human cost

►Hundreds of Hundreds of thousands of thousands of people forced to people forced to flee homes.flee homes.

►Occurred during Occurred during a time of social a time of social and economic and economic upheaval: The upheaval: The Depression.Depression.

The LegacyThe Legacy

► The Dust Bowl lasted about a decade.The Dust Bowl lasted about a decade.►Much was learned about cultivation in dry-Much was learned about cultivation in dry-

land ecosystems, which helped prevent land ecosystems, which helped prevent another Dust Bowl.another Dust Bowl.