The Grapes of Wrath

1. The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck

2. Background • Most of Steinbeck’s works take place in CA, and deal with subjects that he understands • He found material from his novels from the CA Valley • In preparation for his novels, Steinbeck would often live, work and be with the people about whom he would write

3. Background • For the Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck went to Oklahoma, joined some migrants and rode with them to CA. • He stayed with the migrants and joined them in their search for work, and came to terms with their characteristics. • He made various trips to camps to observe first hand the living and working conditions of the migrants.

4. NOVEL of PROTEST • The Grapes of Wrath has been considered a novel of protest or a social document. • It was debated as to whether it was accurate. • Religions attacked it as being obscene. • Citizens of Oklahoma resented that they were depicted as “OKIES” and denied the fact that Oklahoma was a “dust bowl” unable to grow crops.

5. Novel of Protest • However, many university professors and sociologists, testified to the accuracy of the book. • The book has an Emersonian view – Every man comes from a great Oversoul and in death returns to that Oversoul. • “Transcendentalism”

6. Structure • Steinbeck told the story of one family – the Joads – so that America could understand the situation of the migrants more closely and intimately. • Chapters which speak of the general society or “dust bowl” are called intercalary chapters. These chapters come between the action/dialogue of the other chapters and do not include the main characters of the story.