The Joad Family In The Grapes Of Wrath
During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, most of America was struggling with poverty. This struggle was made worse for families living in the midwest farming areas as the Dust Bowl struck, destroying crops and causing many homes to be foreclosed. With nowhere to go, many migrant families moved west to California, for advertisements promised plentiful jobs. The Joad family was one of these families, and on their journey they encountered both discrimination and hard times, but even through that they remained kind and generous people. During the journey, many families encountered pain, loss, and a general feeling of hopelessness. The Joad family was no exception. The Joads, like many migrant families during the 1930’s, relied on their automobile,
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An example of this is shown when the Joads decide to camp near a ditch. Ivy and Sairy Wilson were fixing a car when the Joad family arrived, and though they could have turned the family away easily they welcomed the Joads. This example continues when the Joad’s grandfather dies while the family is camping with the Wilsons. The Wilsons treat the Joad family as their own family, even from seconds after Granpa’s death both Sairy and Ivy comfort and advise the family. Steinbeck shows how Sairy takes care of Grandma when he writes, “Sairy took Granma by the arm and led her outside… Sairy took her to a mattress lying on the ground and sat her down on it” (Steinbeck 138). This kindness allows the family to grieve fairly quickly, and prepare for more losses along the way. A second instance where the family encounters is during their stay at Weedpatch, for the family is not used to the unity and cooperation the camp offers. Through Weedpatch, the Joads were given an almost comfortable lifestyle. The family was given food, shelter, work, and a community. The camp helped to strengthen the Joad family, and fueled them for the next part of their journey. The last example of kindness was how Mrs. Wainwright helped Rose of Sharon during her labour, as if Rose of Sharon was her own daughter. Without Mrs. Wainwright’s help through her labour, even more complications could have arose within Rose of Sharon’s birth, possibly more than the death of her infant. The Joads would not have made it without the kindness the encountered on their journey to the
An example of this is shown when the Joads decide to camp near a ditch. Ivy and Sairy Wilson were fixing a car when the Joad family arrived, and though they could have turned the family away easily they welcomed the Joads. This example continues when the Joad’s grandfather dies while the family is camping with the Wilsons. The Wilsons treat the Joad family as their own family, even from seconds after Granpa’s death both Sairy and Ivy comfort and advise the family. Steinbeck shows how Sairy takes care of Grandma when he writes, “Sairy took Granma by the arm and led her outside… Sairy took her to a mattress lying on the ground and sat her down on it” (Steinbeck 138). This kindness allows the family to grieve fairly quickly, and prepare for more losses along the way. A second instance where the family encounters is during their stay at Weedpatch, for the family is not used to the unity and cooperation the camp offers. Through Weedpatch, the Joads were given an almost comfortable lifestyle. The family was given food, shelter, work, and a community. The camp helped to strengthen the Joad family, and fueled them for the next part of their journey. The last example of kindness was how Mrs. Wainwright helped Rose of Sharon during her labour, as if Rose of Sharon was her own daughter. Without Mrs. Wainwright’s help through her labour, even more complications could have arose within Rose of Sharon’s birth, possibly more than the death of her infant. The Joads would not have made it without the kindness the encountered on their journey to the