Banned Book Review #14
Written by LeslieQ.
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, depicts the plight of one Oklahoma family, the Joads, as they migrate west to California in order to find relief from the Great Depression. The story begins with Tom, the son of the family, hitchhiking back to his home from prison. Instead of finding his family living as usual, he finds that the family has been evicted from their home and that the entire area is stricken with poverty.
The family decides to leave for California, where steady jobs are reportedly plentiful. Steinbeck describes their journey to California in heart-wrenching detail. The journey begins with the Joads purchasing a beat up truck from a smooth talking car dealership. Immediately, hardships follow. The family dog and the grandfather of the family die. Others attempt to warn the Joads about the miserable conditions in California, but the family moves on.
Along the way, they sleep in ditches, near creeks, and in government camps established for migrant workers. They discover daily bathing, toilets, and fun activities in the government camp, but later are forced to leave. They finally reach California, only to find low-paying work. The grandmother dies, Casy, their once-preacher acquaintance is murdered as a result of leading a union strike, and the Joads relocate in order to protect Tom from arrest. The Joads eventually find decent paying work at one farm and live in a boxcar, but the work quickly ends when all of the fields have been picked.
Tom leaves the family to hide in a cave so the family will not be responsible for hiding him. The rainy season follows, the end of the season marks the beginning of more disaster as Rose of Sharon, or Roshasharn (Tom’s sister) delivers her baby stillborn. Instead of burying the baby, Uncle John places it in a box in the creek so that others can see the result of poor living. Steinbeck concludes the book with Rosasharn nursing a starving man they find in a barn. Between the details of the story line he describes the political and social climate of the time, which is full of crime, anger, and unrest.
This book should be read because it helps others to feel compassion and understanding for the needy. The Grapes of Wrath is an eye-opener to anyone who is unaware of the hardships that low-paid workers face, regardless of whether or not economic depression is present. Steinbeck slowly reveals how the negatively judged Okies are simply people who want to protect their families and enjoy the simple life. His description of the Joads' day-to-day activities during the Depression shows the struggle to survive that some people face everyday now. The author encourages one to think about political, social, and economical issues without the use of jargon.
I give this book 5 stars because Steinbeck is able to reach people who are not consciously interested in the issues he presents. The well-written storyline encourages thought by reaching the reader’s emotions and describing day-to-day tasks that everyone faces, such as purchasing and cooking food. His shocking end to the story causes sadness, outrage, disgust, and many questions about the roles of government, the individual, and the people of a nation.
The Grapes of Wrath
