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emilymhb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Police brutality
the_annia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Classism, Miscarriage, Violence, and Police brutality
Minor: Murder and Blood
kaitoro_walker13's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, and Pregnancy
Minor: Racial slurs, Child death, and Miscarriage
carpetconcretecrocodile's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
One of John Steinbeck’s greatest writing strengths, to me, is his ability to craft realistic scenarios that connect with people and encourage examinations of human life. And despite my love for East of Eden, I find that The Grapes of Wrath truly exemplifies that strength the most, and it makes perfect sense that it was banned upon release.
The way economic and social disparity is described in this book is often harrowing. The way each character in the Joad family portrays different personalities’ reaction to these disparities is part of what makes it so harrowing, as often times you can relate these characters to people that may be in your life, or perhaps even yourself. And I believe that’s how Steinbeck riled so many people up with this book- showing average, realistic people taking on the horrors that the Great Depression befell onto them, which allows for a much deeper connection and emotional response to the themes.
I found this book amazing, and it’s hard to describe in detail why that is. So I implore anyone who hasn’t to read it, and find out themselves.
Graphic: Blood, Animal death, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, Murder, and Police brutality
Minor: Racial slurs
another_dahlia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, Miscarriage, and Murder
Minor: Car accident and Colonisation
matilda_holroyd_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Child death, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy
larseneiii's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Sexism, Classism, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, and Police brutality
Moderate: Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Cursing
Minor: Confinement, Genocide, Slavery, Self harm, Religious bigotry, Ableism, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
The Grapes of Wrath contains several instances of sexism and racism (including the occasional use of the n-word). The racism is restricted to a handful of off-hand remarks made by the characters, while the sexism shows up more frequently. However, these instances serve mainly to accurately reflect the attitudes of the people it follows, and I personally did not get the feeling that the author was championing such views. The story itself contains several strong, capable, well-written female characters and the book’s overall message champions human dignity. However, every reader will have their own interpretation of these aspects of the book, and it is important to keep in mind if you are sensitive to these topics in literature.
Graphic: Deportation, Death of parent, Confinement, Classism, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Police brutality, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Grief, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Abandonment, Misogyny, Alcohol, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Bullying, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Forced institutionalization
alex2teeuw's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Steinbeck did his best - as he had hoped - "to rip a reader's nerves to rags". I find it difficult to imagine anything besides. For someone like myself who had not read much leftist literature, the Grapes of Wrath helped me develop class consciousness and a consideration for those who are marginalised. Really - how could anyone who's read the Grapes of Wrath conclude that we live in a just society, a functioning society, a successful society that works for everyone? It changed me.
Also, chapters 5 and 25 are hands-down the best pages of literature ever written. They're beautifully written - analogous to Marx's capital. I feel immense sadness and simultaneous happiness when I read them. I feel the anger.
Also, also, it should not be ignored that there is quite widespread agreement that Steinbeck used (or even plagiarised) some ideas for the Grapes of Wrath from Sanora Babb's 'Whose Names Are Unknown'. It would be worth reading both novels.
Graphic: Murder and Miscarriage
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Death, Murder, Pregnancy, and Misogyny
calamityin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Cursing, Death of parent, Child death, Classism, Death, Hate crime, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Dementia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Slavery
Minor: Kidnapping