Chapter 15

Chapter fifteen is a short story, almost like a parable, in The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck. In this chapter, Steinbeck offers that small glimpses of hope, yet he still creates the characters with a judgemental attitude. The short story centers around a waitress named Mae and a cook name Al, who experience all kinds of people in their small fast food restaurant, such as truckers, farmers, and migrants. The characters attitudes to these different people shows the attitudes of many of the people in the United States towards the farmers, tenants, and other poor people moving to the west, searching for a better life.

In this story Mae and Al talk of how they like truckers who bring them bigger tips, rather than the migrants, farmers, and other travelers who come to the little restaurant. In particular, two well acquainted truckers of Mae come in for pie. Mae treats them with wonderful hospitality, giving them large slices of pie, telling jokes, and being all around peaceful and nice to them. Suddenly, a migrant family comes in asking for water and bread. Mae treats them with contempt, judging them by the rumors she has heard. She treats them as thieves, beggars, as "riff-raff." Al, scorning Mae for her behavior, gives the man bread. The man's two younger boys, staring greedily at some candy ask for the price. Mae, feeling pity for them, charges them for much less than the candy is priced. The family is grateful, and they go on their way. When the truckers leave, Mae notices an extremely large tip on the table left by the truckers, and she is filled with astonishment.

In this chapter, Mae learns a valuable lesson; if she is kind to someone, they in turn, and others in turn, may be nice to her. Therefore, because of her actions, she gained a sense of gratitude and astonishment. This chapter denounces the rumored terrible reputations of the farmers, tenants, and migrants. This whole chapter is an example of the glimmer of hope presented in chapter twelve. Still though, this chapter of hope does not last, and the gloom and despair of the entire conflict of the journey returns.