Steinbecks Purpose in the Grapes of Wrath - Research Paper Example

Steinbeck’s purpose in the Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath is a 1939 realist novel by John Steinbeck. The novel is an historical text, which has endured a legacy of many decades. The novel recounts a story of human unity, love and the significance of avoiding individualistic life during hard times (Sobchack 611). Some scholars have disagreed as to Steinbeck’s entire purpose in writing Grapes of Wrath as well as the manner in which he structured the novel. However, a critical assessment of the writer’s historical background leaves an indisputable fact that Steinbeck succeeded in advocating for human unity, love, and avoidance of individualistic life. The background of John Steinbeck, as well as his former writings, makes him an experienced authority in tackling the chronicle of events in The Grapes of Wrath. This is evident in the way he recounts the story of Joads, the situations that led to their being dispossessed of their only hope and cast to wander in California during the great depression (Zirakzadeh 599). Moreover, a great portion of his young adult life was spent working as a ranch hand in California Salinas’s valley. Here, he gained considerable knowledge regarding lives of migrant laborers in the farms (Zirakzadeh 601). He was, therefore, aware of the social inequalities affecting the labour force (Garcia 86). He had earlier written another novel titled In Dubious Battle in which he imprinted his reputation and authority as a social critic and an advocate of the migrant worker. Moreover, the San Francisco news recognized him as a social commentator and contracted him to write a series of articles on the life of migrant workers in California central valley camps (Sobchack 599). Given this background and experience with migrant issues, Steinbeck had incomparable experience and authority to write The Grapes of Wrath, which is based on the lives of migrant population. In this novel, Steinbeck speaks on behalf of the dispossessed persons who went to settle in California. He vividly records their plight, especially the way the society was quickly entrenching capitalistic ideals and forgetting about them. He tried to placate the dominant idea of capitalism as evident when he wrote, “This is the beginning—from “I” to “we”. If you who own the things people must have could understand this, you might preserve yourself. If you could separate causes from results… you might survive” (p.158). Here, the author foresees the death of individualism. However, this is a self assuaging ideology given that the socialist ideals were inevitably falling. Even so, the idea was to let the society realize that it was unjust to ignore fellow human beings. Steinbeck is pessimistic of the “I” ideals which can not let rich know the difference between the causes and the results of their deeds. At one point, he laments “.., But that you cannot know” (p.158), and he quickly justifies that“… the quality of owning freezes you forever into “I”, and cuts you off forever from the “we”” (p.158). Although this dream was not probably attained, the writer managed to drive his point home. His stance stamped his authority regarding the plight of California emigrants. The Grapes of Wrath is based on the historical and social events of 1930s in America, especially the environmental disaster that struck in1935. Before the 1930s decade, there were severe droughts in the Great Plains region of the United States. In 1929, there had been a market crash followed by a decline in the US economy. This decline made banks desperate. They started looking for ways of recovering losses (Zirakzadeh 598). The companies that held small lands started to merge into corporations and removed families from their farms. As a result, the uneducated and inexperienced people were cast into unemployment, armed with agrarian skills only. About half a million people moved to California where they were labeled Okies; a term for outcast from the Southwest or Northern plain estates (Gregory 76). The Grapes of Wrath, therefore, speaks on behalf of the ‘little people’, as Tom Joad would call them. These ‘little people’ are the impoverished and dispossessed. They are able to form a massive force against the capitalistic few, according to Steinbeck. Sometimes their situation determines their action, but not their deliberate initiative. Steinbeck writes, therefore, “…when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need” (p.249). It is from this vantage point that Steinbeck warns his audience that “Men who have created new fruits in the world cannot create a system whereby their fruits may be eaten” (pp.349). This is the capitalistic ideal, and he is trying to inform the ‘little people’ that capitalistic system can not grant their freedom. Their freedom will only come out of their unity and cooperation so as to restore humanity in the society. To the capitalists, he warns that “In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage” (pp.349). At this point, as an advocate for human unity, love for the other person and non individualistic life, Steinbeck is trying to show the possible consequences of amassing individual wealth and ignoring the many. He also decries that “The great owners ignored the three cries of history. The land fell into fewer hands, the number of dispossessed increased, and every effort of the great owners, was directed at repression” (p.249). This is the fate of the few who benefit from capitalistic ideals. The great owners are so busy to solve people’s problems, but the poor are willing to help. One character in the novel, states that “If you're in trouble or hurt or need—go to poor people” (p.376). The character goes on to assert that “They're the only ones that'll help—the only ones” (p.376). This is a deliberate attempt to expose the underbelly of capitalism. The only portion of the society, which has humanity, is supposedly the dregs; the poor who will go to all lengths to extend a hand of help for the needy. In this novel, Steinbeck gives the dispossessed and the impoverished a voice. He does so by depicting their humanity, their love and unity that lacks in the capitalist system consisted of both natural and artificial persons; such as banks (Zirakzadeh 600). In chapter five, John Steinbeck defines the bank as “…something more than men, I tell you. It’s the monster. Men made it, but they can’t control it” (Chap. 5). The bank is a means of capitalistic ideals and at some point; we are introduced to yet another means of instilling inhumane economic gains without considering the plight of the ordinary person (Sobchack 608). The machines have replaced laborers because the capitalist person wants to reap gains regardless of the consequences. With regard to machinery, in chapter 14, John Steinbeck invokes socialist ideals and so he writes; “[If] this tractor were ours, it would be good - not mine, but ours…But this tractor does two things - it turns the land and turns us off the land” (Chap. 14). This is the oppressive nature of inhumane system that does not have love for the low class people in the society. However, there is some hope among the poor. A character named Tom Joad, swears that “I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be everywhere—wherever you look. Wherever they is a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they is a cop beating up a guy…” (p.419). In this case, the writer accomplished his intention of showing the sacrifice that the dispossessed and the impoverished are ready to pay so as to see to it that their fellow men survive and embrace a better tomorrow. In Conclusion, the writer succeeded in his endeavor to expose the ills of capitalistic ideals by bringing into play the binary opposition strategy. He depicted capitalist society as inhumane, lacking love and concern for underprivileged in the society. The dispossessed ‘little people’ are shown as humane, loving and ready to help. This way, the reader is able to see that humanity, love and cooperation inhere not among the wealthy, but among poor, dispossessed, and impoverished. Works Cited Garcia, Reloy. “The Rocky Road to Eldorado: The Journey Motif in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.” Steinbeck Quarterly 14(1981): 83-93 Gregory, James. “Dust Bowl Legacies: the Okie Impact on California, 1939–1989.” California History 68.3 (1989): 74–85. Sobchack, Vivian. “The Grapes of Wrath (1940): Thematic Emphasis Through Visual Style.” American Quarterly 1979 31(5): 596–615. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: The Viking Press, 1939. Print. Zirakzadeh, Ernesto. “John Steinbeck on the Political Capacities of Everyday Folk: Moms, Reds, and Ma Joad's Revolt.” Polity 36.4 (2004): 595–618. Read More