The Grapes of Wrath is a classic novel with great social importance. It is a work of realism, representing the world as it was, no sugar-coating. John Steinbeck portrayed a time of serious crisis in our country. He uses the Joad family to illustrate many important social problems that were seriously disturbing the chemistry of the nation. The novel is used as a desperate call for help and change within the workings of America. Steinbeck also illustrates human determination and will to live through the struggles and triumphs of the Joads. The two important themes Steinbeck illustrates in The Grapes of Wrath are those of socialism and human perseverance.

Socialism lies deep within this novel. During a time when the economic system failed most Americans, these ideas became very popular. Steinbeck portrays the capitalist system as a failure and calls for reform. He depicts the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. The wealthy take advantage of the desperateness of the poor to demand low wages and gain high profits. In chapter 21 Steinbeck writes "When there was work for a man, ten men fought for it-fought with a low wage. If that fella'll work for thirty cents, I'll do

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Steinbeck's masterpiece is a very accurate portrayal of an era in which our country was very much in trouble. He uses the Joad family to show what hundreds of thousands of Americans suffered as a call for attention to this major problem. It's obvious he wanted something to change within the economical workings of the country. Serious themes of socialism lie beneath the story. Rationing of the land instead of giving it all to the upper class and big corporations would save many people from hunger, persecution, and death. Another important theme within the epic tale is that of human strength and will to survive. The Joads are so determined and set on survival, nothing can stop them. They flat out refuse to fail and will battle it out till their deaths.

it for twenty ... And this was good, for wages went down and prices stayed up. ... And pretty soon we'll have serfs again. ... A great owner bought a cannery. And when the peaches and the pears were ripe he cut the price of fruit below the cost of raising it. As a cannery owner he paid himself a low price for the fruit and kept the price of canned goods up and took his profit. And the little farmers who owned no canneries lost their farms ... " The r!

heir latter days in California when both food and money have gotten low. Ma, is the most determined to keep the f

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Approximate Word count = 948
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)