The grapes of wrath 5

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorHigh School, 11th grade February 2008

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The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck in 1939. In 1940 it garnered him the Pulitzer Prize. The Grapes of Wrath has been called "The best example of the proletarian literature of the 1930's." by Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia.

The first chapter is a description of the land. This description of the great "dust bowl" gives us the background situation for the great migration to California. In the next chapter we are introduced to the main character of the novel, Tom Joad. He is hitchhiking home after being incarcerated for four years on the charge of manslaughter. After being dropped off near his house he meets his old preacher Jim Casy. Casy informs Joad that he no longer feels the need to be a preacher. Casy accompanies Tom back to the deserted farm that used to be his families. Muley Graves, a former neighbor of the Joad's informs Tom that his family, along with most tenant farmers of the area had been pushed off their land.

He also tells him that his family is now living at his Uncle John's farm.

Tom and Casy arrive at Uncle John's farm to find the Joads preparing to move again, this time to California. This is where Tom's family is introduced to us. There is Ma, Pa, Grampa and Granma, and Noah, the oldest son. The daughter, Rose of Sharon is pregnant and dreams of finding a nice place in California. Connie, Rose of Sharon's husband who deserts her when they reach California, Al, the sixteen-year old son, and Ruthie and Windfield, the two youngest children. Tom is now informed that the banks had foreclosed on all the farms. Casy decides to go with the Joads to California. While they are getting ready to go Muley stops...