Theme Of Family In The Grapes Of Wrath

Writer, John Steinbeck, in his historical fiction novel, The Grapes of Wrath, describes the hardships that the poor migrant farmers faced during the depression as they moved westward, searching for a better life. Steinbeck’s purpose is to inform about the difficulties poor farmers faced during the depression, as well as to entertain the reader by the story of the Joads. He adopts a somewhat depressing, yet quite detailed, tone in order to fully showcase the troubles that the Joads face, the same problems all the poor faced during the time of the depression. Steinbeck’s theme throughout the novel is the importance of family. Whether it’s the family values that help you succeed, or staying with family to keep you safe; Steinbeck exemplifies both through the story as he uses the Joads and their journey west to exemplify the importance of family.
Steinbeck begins his novel by establishing vivid imagery to draw the reader in and get them interested in the story. From the very first page of the novel, Steinbeck’s description of the rain and sky sets the stage for vivid imagery throughout the book:
“The last rains lifted the corn quickly and scattered the weed colonies and grass along the sides of the roads so that the gray country and the dark red country began to disappear under a green cover. In the last part of May the sky grew pale and the
Whether it is his brilliant use of tone, his contrasting diction, or his vivid imagery, Steinbeck is always using some form of pathos to keep the reader engaged and wanting more. This allows the reader to truly understand the familial bonds the Joads share, both with themselves and with others. Whether it is helping the sick, the poor, or their neighbors the Wainwrights, the Joads always have a deep family connection that allows them to push onwards, no matter how tough life