One of the things that I admire most about John Steinbeck is his ability to make an interesting story out of the most mundane of social phenomenon.
Using your knowledge of the novel, explain what you think the best aspect of Steinbeck's writing is in the novel.
For example:
What do you think of the vignettes he inserts between chapters about the Joads?
What is the significance of that poor turtle?
Is there an element of suspense that Steinbeck has artfully captured?
Do you like his characters?
The list could go on, but just pick one point of focus and grow from there.
Happy Thinking,
Mr. B
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Reading The Grapes of Wrath was not very enjoyable, but after I finished I realized I like the main idea and story. It was interesting how Steinbeck centered the story around one family. Not only was the family suffering from outer conflicts, like their search for jobs, but they also faced conflicts within their family. Rose of Sharon losing her baby and the deaths of some of their family and friends were two major conflicts they had to face. It shows the importance of family, and how even in the hardest times, we always have our family. Even when we fight with our family, it's easier to forgive them than our neighbors. The idea to use a family made the book more relatable, because I could see certain traits of my family members in the characters. Things have changed so much since then, but the relationship of a family has remained the same.
ReplyDeleteSteinbeck craftily used symbolism to enhance the plot line of his novel. Even though some of the objects he used seemed to be ordinary and mundane they hold a deeper meaning. For instance, in chapter three he inserts a vignette about a turtle crossing the road. While this appears to be an absent-minded deviation from the plot it was symbolic for the journey awaiting the Joads. The turtle is intent on arriving at its destination. The drive behind the determination is the belief that something better is just over the horizon. It faces many obstacles along the way including the cars that try to run it over, being flipped onto its back, and Tom Joad picking it up. Each of these obstacles foreshadows the obstacles that will stand in the way of the Joads. The car symbolizes outside influence that struggle to deter the Joads from their route. When the turtle gets flipped onto its back, it symbolizes trouble from within the family. When Tom Joad pick up the turtle it symbolizes that they get off route somewhere down the road by an outside force. The turtle is ever persistent and shows the hope that is buried deep within the hearts of the Joad family.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Grapes of Wrath; reading it was very easy and enjoyable to me. I loved Steinbeck's simplicity, and his ability to make a story out of nothing. The vignette of the turtle, for example, gives a broad story of what life was like for "Okies", or anyone affected by depression. The truck driver symbolized the California natives and police, purposefully trying to ruin their lives. The other driver represents the few good spirited people out there, who actually cared about the plight of their fellow man. All this represented in a short story about a turtle crossing a road. Additionally, I noticed Steinbeck's purposeful use of his characters. Jim Casey, for example, represents the moral and faithful side of people, although not religious. There are many more aspects to list, but Steinbeck's simplicity and his characters are two of my favorite aspects of his writing style.
ReplyDeleteSteinback's usage of the 19th century movement of realism is the best aspect of The Grapes of Wrath. This idea of focusing on the now instead of the later is what kept me interested. The Joad family even portrayed this aspect of realism. Even though they should be focusing on where their hopelessness is going to take them, they decide to live day by day. Sharing this adventure Steinback assures to inform us readers of every detail and struggle the Joads face, no matter how callous it may seem. Steinback giving us every detail gives us the realistic image we need to see to relate with this story and enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteThe Grapes of Wrath was a very challenging novel for me to finish due to Steinback's habit of describing every minor detail, which made him branch off and then go back into his story. This was rather irritating because it took forever to get to the next main event in the story. Once I finially got through it, though, I rather liked what he was saying about the depressionate state of these people during this time and how it affected everyone. We see get to see how it affected the Joad family and others around them. This gave me a better understanding of the depression and the sand bowl during this time period. I personally think that this book is better understood after finished, and would probably be easier to read after you got through it the first time.
ReplyDeleteTo be very blunt, I hated this novel, but I find after discussing it, I can see why it is a classic. The refrences to the social challenges, the political challenges, and the personal challenges that Steinback wrote it were compelling at the time. I thought that the chapter break downs made is very hard to read, considering Catch-22 is similiar I realize that in The Grapes of Wrath the confusion between the too were unrealted most of the time, that the style of writing and the subjects in the chapters made it hard to read, especially in less than a month...
ReplyDeleteThe characters were well written, I understood them, and in the end I could understand the significance behind them. For example Casey, and the Christian themes and religious themes behind that made sense, and the sister who saved the old man with her breast milk, and Tom being the underlining character in the end and coming to bring a new beggining. All in all now from retrosepct I can understand the book a little better, but I probably won't go back and read it until it's necessary.
The Grapes of Wrath was not the most exciting novel, but it was enjoyable in the sense that it was an easy read, with a very apparent purpose: to portray the lifestyle of those most affected by the Great Depression. The most effect part of the novel which helped portray this image was Steinbeck's choice in characters. Each character was symbolic and significant to the family, such as Ma Joad. She is the rock of the family, as most mothers are. She does all that she can to keep the family together on the long, treacherous journey. Jim Casey is also symbolic, as he represents faith and how it is never completely lost. Each of the different flat characters work together to enhance the message and significance of the novel.
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