Chapter 26

One of the constant themes throughout the book is prejudice and hate. In the beginning it was the small farm owner's and tenant farmer's hate of the banks, the higher corporations, and the people who kicked them off their land and took it away. As the people moved away out west it was the prejudice of the people on their way to the west. When the families made it to California it was the prejudice and hate of the people of California that tried to keep the migrants down, tried to keep them afraid and tattered, tried to make them leave.

One example of this is in Hooper Ranch where the Joad family went to pick peaches and make some money. As Tom walked down to investigate the yelling men and tents outside of the ranch, he comes upon two guards. "A man stood up and walked near. Tom could see the gun in his hand. Then a flashlight played on his face. 'Where you think you're going?' 'Well, I thought I'd take a walk. Any law against it?' 'You better walk some other way.' Tom asked, 'Can't I even get out of here?' 'Not tonight you can't. Want to walk back, or shall I whistle some help an' take you?' 'Ya see, it's for your own good. Them crazy pickets might get you.' 'What pickets?' 'Them [dang] reds.'"

Also after Tom found Casy, and the men went to hide but were found, the men who stopped them were cruel towards Casy. "Two flashlight beams fell on the men, caught them, blinded them. 'Stand where you are.' The voices came out of the darkness. 'That's him. That shiny [man]. That's him.' Casy stared blindly at the light. He breathed heavily. 'Listen,' he said. ' You fellas don' know what you're doin'. You're helpin' to starve kids.' 'Shut up, you red son-of-a-[gun].'A short heavy man stepped into the light. He carried a new white pick handle. Casy went on, 'You don' know what you're a-doin'.' The heavy man swung with the pick handle. Casy dodged down into the swing. The heavy club crashed into the side of his head with a dull cruch of bone, and Casy fell sideways out of the light. 'Jesus, George. I think you killed him.' 'Put the light on him,' said George. 'Serve the son-of-a-[gun] right.'"

The people were treated rudely, cruelly, and unjustly. It was unfair for the people of the west to hate the migrant only because they were moving for a fresh start and better work. But this element is the whole basis of the book.