Reviews with content warning for Death - The Grapes of Wrath

(4.5 Stars)

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.

Content Warnings

another_dahlia's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

tilda_002's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

larseneiii's review against another edition

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challenging medium-paced

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

....why the fuck did it end like that....

Content Warnings

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

I bought The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck because I enjoyed reading Of Mice and Men in high school.

Blurb:

In this novel, Steinbeck alternates between macro and micro views of history. The bulk of the book follows the Joad family as they are forced out of their farmland by corporate landowners during the manmade environmental crisis known as the Dust Bowl. They pile their large family and most important worldly possessions into a sedan-turned-pickup truck and make the arduous drive from Oklahoma to California in search of work. In the alternating shorter chapters, Steinbeck outlines the migration of sharecroppers and other poor farmers from regions affected by the Dust Bowl to California, where they struggled due to low wages, inhumane business practices, and hostile locals. These chapters frame the story of the Joads as part of a larger historical movement.

Review:

There is no getting around the fact that The Grapes of Wrath is a slow-paced read, description-heavy, and full of small details. However, this appears to be intentional—any boredom or frustration the reader feels helps them empathize with the main characters, who must tediously travel halfway across the country in an old, rickety sedan-turned-pickup truck that could break down at any moment. Herein lies the genius of The Grapes of Wrath: Steinbeck writes his narrative and characters so realistically that I actually felt as though I was along for the ride with the Joads as they drove to California and searched desperately for work. Every character in this novel feels like a real human being, and Steinbeck avoids falling into the common trap of depicting lower-class characters as either monstrous or angelic. I rooted for the Joads every step of the way: their victories were my victories, their defeats my defeats. Their dialogue is full of wisdom: if I were a person who annotated my books, I would have highlighted and starred several phrases per page.

The realistic portrayal of the migrants and their travails as well as the intelligent, brilliantly written social commentary transforms this book into a powerful anti-capitalist work. I have never read a book that so effectively made me despise capitalism and the American police institution. Steinbeck achieves this without appearing preachy or sacrificing the realism of his story. The Grapes of Wrath absolutely deserves its status as a Pulitzer Prize winner and American masterpiece.

Sidenote:
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.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like The Grapes of Wrath if:

· You have enjoyed other works by Steinbeck (if you have not read any of his other work, I recommend starting out with a short story or novella by him first to see if you like his writing style)

· You are a fan of the artistic movement known as realism and/or you enjoy stories that realistically portray the lives of everyday, working-class people

· You want to learn more about the human side of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl

· You are interested in anti-capitalist and anti-police literature

· You have experienced displacement from your home due to environmental, political, or social factors

You might not like The Grapes of Wrath if:

· You dislike description-heavy, slow-paced books where “nothing happens” for pages on end

· You dislike stories with ambiguous/open endings

· You want to read a cheerful story

A Similar Book:

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (1906). Similarities between The Jungle and The Grapes of Wrath include:

· Stories that follow migrant working-class families who attempt to build a life for themselves in a harsh, cruel capitalist system

· Pro-socialist messages

· Realistic depictions of working conditions in American history

Content Warnings

alex2teeuw's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

It's a good novel. A very good novel. The prose is accessible and lucid, and the story is timeless: one which documents the real atrocities of the Great Depression and the tumultuous everyday politics of 1930s America, whist incorporating prophetic biblical references. A radical spirit permeates the novel. Unsurprising, then, that the Grapes of Wrath is admired by the working class - the marginalised are the focus, "the greedy bastards" are vilified for their crimes which are "beyond denunciation". And it is unsurprising that the novel continues to be read today as poverty persists in spite of being in a world of plenty. The accessible prose, the relatable characters, the crime, the hope, and the fears make the Grapes of Wrath loved (and loathed by those who wrongly write it off as rudimentary...).

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.

Content Warnings

calamityin's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

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