The Grapes of Wrath (3)

Name of book: “The Grapes of Wrath”

Names of group members: Brittany Geilear, Loren Williams, Kaylee Collins

Number of pages: 581

Chapters reviewed in this blog post: 14-21

Genre: Fiction

Author: John Steinbeck

Publisher & date published: April 14, 1939

Individual Reflections:

Brittany:  I think these chapters have illustrated the work and exchange theme. Because of the changes in the economy it has affected the way people in the 1920s-30s think. The people in Oklahoma with no jobs and had families to feed, were desperate. They would do anything to find a job that paid one dime just so they can buy food for their family and them. The migration and movement in this book is very significant. It shows that people would go through painful journeys, tired muscles, and their bodies shutting down just to have a chance at hope, at the future. The journey to California impacted the people of Oklahoma in ways we can only imagine. This, this impact has made us think outside of society, outside of our comfort zones, so we can understand the importance of knowing our history and reflect on it. 

Kaylee:  I think the main theme of this entire book (especially chapter 14-21) is movement. Movement in this time period was a big deal. Due to lack of jobs, crops (income), water, and food. People had no choice but to migrate and due to promise of work and hopeful stories, many people chose to move California. I think this book definitely connects to the class. For example it makes the dust bowl and Great Depression seem more like the real event it was. I will never be able to experience this but this books helps me know what it would be like to live through these unfortunate events.

Loren: With the depression baring down, people recognized that they have to be more strict with their morals, the poor and the rich. This chapter really goes into depth with how the Great Depression was handled. It's shows the devastation that occurred and how people showed their true selfs. Also I liked that they told about how when the workers tried to fight for minimum wage that they were arrested for protesting. This really goes back to the shaping of America and the cruelty that we went through to get to today.

The Grapes of Wrath (2)

Name of book: “The Grapes of Wrath”

Names of group members: Brittany Geilear, Loren Williams, Kaylee Collins

Number of pages: 581

Chapters reviewed in this blog post: 7-14

Genre: Fiction

Author: John Steinbeck

Publisher & date published: April 14, 1939

Summary:

       Joad is reunited with his family at Uncle Johns house. The family is getting ready to travel to California. The farmers aren't connected/don't care about their land, they just mow it with a tractor and go back inside. The Great Depression has effected farmers especially in Oklahoma and people are getting evicted by the bank because they have no money from their land because the dust bowl has not produced enough crops for the farmers to sell so they can get money. People are traveling to California because there are rumors that work is needed and they will get money to pay for supplies and feed their families.

Brittany: I think this book is a great way to show the hard times in our history. It definitely helps me understand some of the hardships we had and how everyone reacted to it. It showed that in desperate times people will do anything just for money, just for food. They would migrate by foot anywhere, just like the Joads. The Joads are out of options at this point so they turn to California, a place where there are rumors of a lot of job opportunities which equals money to spend on their survival. In this chapter the Joads are planning on traveling to California in hopes to find a job.

Kaylee: I think this book is a good example of how the Great Depression and the Dust bowl affected our country. The author does a very good job at describing their trials in a first person view that we couldn't otherwise experience. It shows that they had to make hard decisions in order to survive. For example, staying in Oklahoma wasn't an option so they were forced to move.

Loren: With the family needing support they decide to migrate to California which is the main push factor because there is nothing for them in Kansas. Although there are various risks with moving they pursue it anyways. On their route they encounter different people telling them there is nothing for them in California, this makes things worse because they simply don't have the resources to go back to nothing. Along their way they encounter many dangers with death and violence. Though this should make them want to leave they have no other choice.

      Group Discussion:

This book portrays life in the Great Depression and the Dust bowl. Farmers are being effected because their crops aren't growing and from that they don't get enough money to support their family. So, they are being forced out of their houses, crops won't grow, and no work, these demonstrate our push factors. Farmers who have no where to go because they don't have work or money are migrating to California where they have heard rumors of opportunities for jobs.