In the beginning of the chapter the book Steinbeck discusses the earth. It tells how dry the soil is and how even walking stirred up a dust cloud. It tells how the people have adapted such as wearing mask and goggles to protect the air they breathe. The people were devastated by the dust storms that block out the sun and the stars. The land is dry and cracked, the crops are withered and dieing; much like the peoples spirits.

The chapter starts out at a truck stop. Steinbeck implies the importance of a truck stop to truckers. It provides a driver conversation and entertainment with people. The workers are to the driver a distant family. Truck stops provide companionship with people in the same industry and know what it feels like. This is where Steinbeck introduces Tom Joad. Tom and the driver are both dressed in new clothes but, unlike the driver Tom's clothes came from McCalaster. McCalaster is a prison where he spent four years, in punishment for homicide. Tom was at the truck stop looking for a ride. He sat on the running board of a rig, until the driver came out. Tom questioned if the owner of the tr

Tom was walking down a gravel road on his way home and picked up a turtle as a present for his brother and sister. As he went along he grew tired from the hot Oklahoma sun and stopped at a tree along the road and met an old friend named Jim Casy. Jim used to be a preacher but, had lost the calling. Now Jim just bummed around the area and theorized about life. The only information Jim was able to give Tom, was that things were changing and people were leaving, due to the drought. In the end of the chapter Jim decided to go with Tom to his old house to visit.

The chapter talks about the on coming rains. The rains will last a couple of months. The rains are much like the peoples spirits, dark and gloomy. The rain will stop all work for months and the people will starve. No work means no food. The rain leaks in the cars and the cars won't start. The people are stuck where they are.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Rose Sharon, Tom Al, California Chapter, Tom Casy, Tom Jules, John Tom, Jim Casy, McCalaster McCalaster, Zook Chapter, Uncle John, joad family, rose sharon, government camp, truck stop, gas station, people trying, people trying living, land owners, driver tom, uncle john, peoples spirits,
Approximate Word count = 4112
Approximate Pages = 16 (250 words per page double spaced)