Scan barcode
A review by forgottensecret
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
5.0
Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’—I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry n’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build—why, I’ll be there. See? God, I’m talkin’ like Casy. Comes of thinkin’ about him so much. Seems like I can see him sometimes.
'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck is a hot water bottle for concerns that fester in Western modern society. Any discontent about one's job, or the state of the world are slingshotted into perspective when we read the Joad's story.
The tale is simple. Due to failing industry in Oklahoma, the Joads have no choice but to pack up all their belongings to find work in California. The two standouts of the family are Tom, the recently released convict, and his mother, Ma. Other characters are critical to the work as well: Pa, the former reverend Casy, Ruthie, Winfield, Rose of Sharon, Al and Uncle John. Each of them are worth spending time with. Little by little, the optimism which is so bright at the start, dims by their confrontation with reality. Despite this, Tom and Ma uphold it all. Time and time again, they rally everyone into action. Late in the novel, I nearly cried when they both said goodbye to one another!
Several themes are tackled by Steinbeck in this work. The two that I found most intriguing were the kindness and cruelty of people. Some of the acts of kindness make you marvel at society - the Joads partnering up with the Wilsons. Other times, in particular, when they arrive in California, is how easily a people can be vilified. A difference in nationality or skin colour is not needed for loathing to grow.
The story ends in an open-ended note. We are left to ponder what happened to Tom and the family who were still alive.
Overall, this novel was proof yet again that some classics are classics for a reason. Exceptionally well written, and it makes me excited to dive further into Steinbeck's work.
'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck is a hot water bottle for concerns that fester in Western modern society. Any discontent about one's job, or the state of the world are slingshotted into perspective when we read the Joad's story.
The tale is simple. Due to failing industry in Oklahoma, the Joads have no choice but to pack up all their belongings to find work in California. The two standouts of the family are Tom, the recently released convict, and his mother, Ma. Other characters are critical to the work as well: Pa, the former reverend Casy, Ruthie, Winfield, Rose of Sharon, Al and Uncle John. Each of them are worth spending time with. Little by little, the optimism which is so bright at the start, dims by their confrontation with reality. Despite this, Tom and Ma uphold it all. Time and time again, they rally everyone into action. Late in the novel, I nearly cried when they both said goodbye to one another!
Several themes are tackled by Steinbeck in this work. The two that I found most intriguing were the kindness and cruelty of people. Some of the acts of kindness make you marvel at society - the Joads partnering up with the Wilsons. Other times, in particular, when they arrive in California, is how easily a people can be vilified. A difference in nationality or skin colour is not needed for loathing to grow.
The story ends in an open-ended note. We are left to ponder what happened to Tom and the family who were still alive.
Overall, this novel was proof yet again that some classics are classics for a reason. Exceptionally well written, and it makes me excited to dive further into Steinbeck's work.