Summary And Symbolism In The Grapes Of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath: Symbolism

February 28, 1997

The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930's live under. The novel tells of one families migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The Joad family had to abandon their home and their livelihoods. They had to uproot and set adrift because tractors were rapidly industrializing their farms. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loans. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California. How they survive the cruelty of the land owners that take advantage of them, their poverty and
All his descriptions of what he is going to do with the grapes in California suggest contentment , freedom, the goal for which the Joad family strive for: "I'm gonna let the juice run down ma face, bath in the dammed grapes" (Chp 4). The grapes are talked about by Grandpa to help elaborate the theme by showing that no matter how nice everything seems in California, the truth is that their beauty is only skin deep, in their souls they are rotten. The rotten core verses the beautiful appearance. The willow tree that is located on the Joad's farm represents the Joad family. The willow described as being immovable and never bending to the wind or dust. The Joad family does not want to move, they prefer to stay on the land they have planted their roots on, much the same as the willow. The willow contributes to the theme by showing the unwillingness of the people to be removed from their land by the banks. The latter represents the force making them leave their homes. Both of these symbols help contribute to the theme by showing a struggle between each other. The tree struggles against nature in much the same way that the Joad family struggles against the Bank and large