A review by caitkeeper
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

dark emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

“when a majority of the people are hungry and cold, they will take by force what they need. and the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed. the great owners ignored the three cries of history. the land fell into fewer hands, the number of the dispossessed increased, and every effort of the great owners was directed at repression. the money was spent for arms, for gas to protect the great holdings, and spies were sent to catch the murmuring of revolt so that it might be stamped out. the changing economy was ignored, plans for the change ignored; and only the means to destroy revolt were were considered, while the causes of the revolt went on.” pg. 238

i don’t have words really. i think the quote i picked out encapsulates the theme pretty well. and i can understand why the government felt compelled to ban this novel. it disgusts me that it’s not used more, as a tool, for change. the portrayal of poverty and social injustices broke my heart over and over again. it’s always a person who has nothing that is willing to give everything and anything, and that fact has not changed in this oligarch society we live in to this day. like this book was published in 1939 for goodness sake…emotional depletion from this one was real.