The Grapes of Wrath 7

ECON 115 26 May 2000 The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck’s book The Grapes of Wrath depicts the sufferings of a southwestern family of poor tenant farmers who migrate to California in hopes of finding prosperity, but sadly only find poverty and despair there. The book portrays the transition the Joads family experiences as they become migrant laborers under the command of the rich. A change in their concept of family and in their personal roles is …

…we should all be self-reliant, whereas Steinbeck says that we should all help each other out and we are at our best when we are cooperating. Emerson held the self up as the basis of morality, as superior to society, and as the ultimate standard of value. Steinbeck disagrees and says through Casy that “When they’re all workin’ together, but one fella kind of harnesses to the whole shebang—that’s holy”(pg71). bwmoore