The Grapes Of Wrath Rhetorical Analysis

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, mainly focuses on life during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl in America. It follows the Joad family, a family of Oklahoma farmers, who are traveling to the west. The novel explores the strength and goodness of the human spirit and the meaning of family and community in the face of depressing circumstances. The people who are portrayed in The Grapes of Wrath are bound together by their shared unfortunate circumstances. Throughout the novel, there is a community of refugees that is created who, otherwise, may never have been in community with others. Throughout this story, Steinbeck states the argument that humans are one big substance and are at their best when they work together. Also, everything, even capitalism, that goes against this view of becoming one must be replaced. Steinbeck argues this specifically through the characters of Jim and Tom, ethos, and pathos. This point is mainly backed up by Casy’s relation when he said that “maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.” This quote exemplifies how Casy is developing his own philosophy. This philosophy
Through Steinbeck’s rhetorical strategies, he is able to support his argument. Personally, I was persuaded by the novel. With Steinbeck’s gift in captivating his audience through his rhetoric, it is hard for anyone to reject the pathos represented in the story. He directly attacks the tragedies of capitalism during the Great Depression. Likewise, he uses this utopian society that he wants to come true. However, when dealing with reality, it is significant to say that society has grown endlessly far away from Steinbeck’s utopia. Today’s society is becoming more capitalistic, communism has made its way to the minority, and the utopian society of John Steinbeck’s novel has