Through the characters actions and the imagery, the chapter has a tone of desperation, sadness, and devotion. Ma's actions about the men's decisions creates this tone of desperation. She is upset about splitting up, afraid that the two parties will have trouble meeting back up again or not be able to find each other ever again. She stands with great defiance against the idea that their family will not be traveling to California together. She even threatens to beat anyone, in particular Pa, who stands in her way. "Ma waved the jack handle. 'S'pose we was camped, and you went on by. S'pose we got on through, how'd we know where to leave the word, an' how'd you know where to ask?'" "The eyes of the whole family shifted back to Ma. She was the power. She had taken control... 'I ain't scared while we're all here, all that's alive, but I ain't gonna see us bust up.'"
However, Ma's desperation is based on her devotion to the family. She works hard to keep the family going, and everyone is close to each other. Even the Wilson's and the preacher, Jim Casy, have become closer together. When Casy and young Tom Joad work on the broken-down truck, they talk about their love lives. When Al and Tom go in the closest town and service station, they talk about Tom's experiences in prison. Everyone helps each other; they care for each other, and they protect one another. With this long and hard journey, the families have to help each other and protect one another, otherwise it could end in even more hardship or even death. "'We got a bitter road. Granma's sick. She's up there on the truck a-pawin' for a shovel herself. She's jus' tar'd out. We got a long bitter road ahead... All we got is the family unbroke.'"
Yet even with the devotion, sadness is all around. Granma and Sairy are very sick, and Granma is close to death. The camps they come to and the people they meet are not always the nicest or most hospitable. They are only there because they need rest, shelter, and water. Steinbeck describes the grim scenes that add sadness and tiredness to the chapter. "In the grassy lot the wrecks lay, cars with twisted, stove-in noses, wounded cars lying on their sides with the wheels gone." "'The more fellas he can get, an' the hungrier, less he's gonna pay.'" "'Them children died a heart failure,' he said. Put it on his paper. Shiverin', they was, an' their bellies stuck out like a pig bladder.'" As the Joad's family heard of the depressing stories of California, they quickly doubt if this trip was a good idea. Their light of hope slightly dims.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Chapter 16: Summary
In chapter sixteen, the Joad's family continues on their way out of Oklahoma all the way to the "promise land" of California. As they travel along route 66, with the Wilson's, one of the vehicles starts rattling, and Al pulls it over. Tom and Al look over the vehicle and conclude that the bearings and the con-rod are causing the problems. The family is unsure of what to do at this point, whether to stay with the vehicle or split up and head to California. The family decides that it would probably be best to split up and then meet back up again in California. However, Ma hates this idea. "Ma's face softened, but her eyes were still fierce. 'You done this 'thout thinkin' much,' Ma said. 'What we got lef' in the worl'? Nothin' but us. Nothin' but the folks. We come out an' Grampa, he reached for the shovel-shelf right off. An' now, right off, you wanna bust up the folks---'"
Ma throws a fit and threatens to fight if she does not get her way. She decides that they will take the truck to a shady spot with water and set up camp there. Then, the truck will come back to pick up Tom and Casy who will stay with the broken down vehicle. Tom will go into the nearest town and get the parts he needs for the vehicle. After they fix the vehicle they will meet at the camping place, and then they will all continue on their way to California together. Everyone agrees with her, and the plan is put to action.
When Al comes back with the truck and Tom gets the broken parts off the vehicle, Al and Tom go into town, leaving Jim Casy to watch the broken-down vehicle. On their way there, Al and Tom talk about Tom's experience in jail, and how they will start a new adventure in California. They arrive a station to find a dirty one-eyed man, sulking around and asking them questions about his life and feeling sorry for himself. Tom and Al buy the parts they need, and Tom lectures the man on how he needs to stop being pathetic and move on with his life. The two men arrive back to the vehicle, fix it with the help of Casy, and then drive over to the camp that the rest of the Joad's and Wilson's are staying at. The proprietor charges them for entry, which they decline. After talking to the rest of their family, the boys decide to drive on ahead to later meet up with the rest of their sleeping family.
Ma throws a fit and threatens to fight if she does not get her way. She decides that they will take the truck to a shady spot with water and set up camp there. Then, the truck will come back to pick up Tom and Casy who will stay with the broken down vehicle. Tom will go into the nearest town and get the parts he needs for the vehicle. After they fix the vehicle they will meet at the camping place, and then they will all continue on their way to California together. Everyone agrees with her, and the plan is put to action.
When Al comes back with the truck and Tom gets the broken parts off the vehicle, Al and Tom go into town, leaving Jim Casy to watch the broken-down vehicle. On their way there, Al and Tom talk about Tom's experience in jail, and how they will start a new adventure in California. They arrive a station to find a dirty one-eyed man, sulking around and asking them questions about his life and feeling sorry for himself. Tom and Al buy the parts they need, and Tom lectures the man on how he needs to stop being pathetic and move on with his life. The two men arrive back to the vehicle, fix it with the help of Casy, and then drive over to the camp that the rest of the Joad's and Wilson's are staying at. The proprietor charges them for entry, which they decline. After talking to the rest of their family, the boys decide to drive on ahead to later meet up with the rest of their sleeping family.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
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.
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.
Chapter 14
John Steinbeck switches over to a more general view in chapter fourteen. It talks about how the people in the West were scared of the migrants and farmers moving in to their area. "The Western States are nervous under the beginning change... A half-million people moving over the country; a million more restive, ready to move; ten million more felling the first nervousness." They are scared of the possibility of an uprising among the migrants. If the migrants and farmers teamed up and helped each other, they could become a dangerous tidal wave sweeping across the entire country.
To portray the dark and uneasy feeling of this chapter, Steinbeck uses detailed imagery and metaphors. He compares the nervous people of the West to horses. "The Western States, nervous as horses before a thunder storm." He also sets a dark mood on the chapter. "This you may know when the bombs plummet out of the black planes on the market place, when prisoners are stuck like pigs, when the crushed bodies drain filthily in the dust." He fills this chapter with depression, darkness, fear, and the idea of revolt. "And this you can know--fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe." "Only a little multiplication now, and this land, this tractor are ours."
The farmers were upset by the conflict in the country. Tractors were replacing them and they hated it. Their blame was falling on the government, and the answer for them was to rise up together and end their hardships. However, the people of the West were nervous of this idea of revolt. This bleak, and gloomy idea of man living off man continues throughout John Steinbeck's book. This dark side of human nature carries throughout each chapter. Just like service station owners would take advantage of the travelers, people preyed on their fellow countrymen. Steinbeck's idea of a dark and evil human nature with few glimpses of truth and hope carries on throughout this chapter and the book.
To portray the dark and uneasy feeling of this chapter, Steinbeck uses detailed imagery and metaphors. He compares the nervous people of the West to horses. "The Western States, nervous as horses before a thunder storm." He also sets a dark mood on the chapter. "This you may know when the bombs plummet out of the black planes on the market place, when prisoners are stuck like pigs, when the crushed bodies drain filthily in the dust." He fills this chapter with depression, darkness, fear, and the idea of revolt. "And this you can know--fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe." "Only a little multiplication now, and this land, this tractor are ours."
The farmers were upset by the conflict in the country. Tractors were replacing them and they hated it. Their blame was falling on the government, and the answer for them was to rise up together and end their hardships. However, the people of the West were nervous of this idea of revolt. This bleak, and gloomy idea of man living off man continues throughout John Steinbeck's book. This dark side of human nature carries throughout each chapter. Just like service station owners would take advantage of the travelers, people preyed on their fellow countrymen. Steinbeck's idea of a dark and evil human nature with few glimpses of truth and hope carries on throughout this chapter and the book.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Chapter 13
Chapter thirteen foreshadows events on the Joad family's trip. When they first meet the service station owner, he treats them with rudeness and contempt. This foreshadows the other people on the road they will meet that will treat them with just as much hatred and contempt as the owner did. However, this meeting is ironic in itself. The owner himself is packing up and heading out for better work also. Yet he degrades the Joad's trying to boost himself up. He is caught in his own charade, humiliated for his behavior.
The next significant events are the death of the Joad family's dog and Grampa. This represents the bad obstacles that are yet to come. It also foreshadows more death and sadness. They do find a little bit of hope in the new characters they meet, Mr. Ivy and Sairy Wilson. They are a middle aged couple from Kansas with no children. Ivy is a lean man, with dirty blue jeans, and blue shirt and black vest with a straw hat. " His face was lean, the deep cheek-lines great furrow down his face so that his cheek bones and chin stood out sharply. He looked up at the Joad truck and his eyes were puzzled and angry." Sairy Wilson is a sickly woman, who tries very hard to hide her pain. The couple was on their way out west until their car broke down, and Ivy was having trouble fixing it.
In turn for friendship and help, the Joad's promise to help fix Ivy and Sairy Wilson's car. With this, the families pair up together and plan to travel with each other, helping each other, and caring for each other. Still even in their new friendship, there is pain and sadness. "Only Sairy Wilson was awake. She stared into the sky and braced her body firmly against pain." This foreshadows more suffering and pain. Also it symbolizes the fight against the suffering. The coming together of the families can also symbolize the coming together of the Joad family. With their losses now and their losses to come, the Joad family depend on each other more and more.
The next significant events are the death of the Joad family's dog and Grampa. This represents the bad obstacles that are yet to come. It also foreshadows more death and sadness. They do find a little bit of hope in the new characters they meet, Mr. Ivy and Sairy Wilson. They are a middle aged couple from Kansas with no children. Ivy is a lean man, with dirty blue jeans, and blue shirt and black vest with a straw hat. " His face was lean, the deep cheek-lines great furrow down his face so that his cheek bones and chin stood out sharply. He looked up at the Joad truck and his eyes were puzzled and angry." Sairy Wilson is a sickly woman, who tries very hard to hide her pain. The couple was on their way out west until their car broke down, and Ivy was having trouble fixing it.
In turn for friendship and help, the Joad's promise to help fix Ivy and Sairy Wilson's car. With this, the families pair up together and plan to travel with each other, helping each other, and caring for each other. Still even in their new friendship, there is pain and sadness. "Only Sairy Wilson was awake. She stared into the sky and braced her body firmly against pain." This foreshadows more suffering and pain. Also it symbolizes the fight against the suffering. The coming together of the families can also symbolize the coming together of the Joad family. With their losses now and their losses to come, the Joad family depend on each other more and more.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Chapter 13: Summary
Chapter thirteen is the start of the Joad's adventure to California. They have already packed up and are on their way. Al, driving the truck, checks on everything, the gas, the brakes, the engine temperature; he listens for anything that could go wrong. Needing to get out of the truck and refill it, the Joad's family stops at a servicing station. The owner of the service station comes out immediately asking if they have money to pay; this aggravates them. "Tom dropped angrily to the ground and moved toward the fat man. 'We're payin' our way,' he said fiercely. 'You got no call to give us a goin'-over. We ain't asked you for nothin.'"
The man then goes on to talk about the country and the people that stop by his servicing station. He talks of the hard times and the big companies and the traveling people. He says that he does not know what the country is coming to. Then Tom blows up at him again, talking of the terrible times of the country, yelling at the man saying he is soon next to go. The man is shaken by Tom's explosion, and he tells Tom that he is right. Then he goes to get some water with the rest of his family. When this happens, the dog that goes along with the Joad's gets down off the truck and wanders onto the highway. The dog is then run mercilessly over by a car. Saddened, the Joad family continues on their way with Tom as the driver.
As night approaches, the family pulls over and asks to camp near another family. The couple agree and the Joad's start to unload. As they do this, Grampa gets down and immediately starts sobbing. He complains of not feeling very good, and Sairy, the new wife they meet, lies him down on her mattress in her tent. Granma gets the preacher to come and pray for Grampa, but he is unsure of what to pray for. After much struggling, Grampa dies; the preacher said he died of a stroke, "a quick stroke." They bury Grampa themselves at a private funeral service, and they leave a note with him telling who he was and how he died. The heart-broken and tired families decide to travel together helping each other along. With their camp fire meeting finished, the families fall asleep.
The man then goes on to talk about the country and the people that stop by his servicing station. He talks of the hard times and the big companies and the traveling people. He says that he does not know what the country is coming to. Then Tom blows up at him again, talking of the terrible times of the country, yelling at the man saying he is soon next to go. The man is shaken by Tom's explosion, and he tells Tom that he is right. Then he goes to get some water with the rest of his family. When this happens, the dog that goes along with the Joad's gets down off the truck and wanders onto the highway. The dog is then run mercilessly over by a car. Saddened, the Joad family continues on their way with Tom as the driver.
As night approaches, the family pulls over and asks to camp near another family. The couple agree and the Joad's start to unload. As they do this, Grampa gets down and immediately starts sobbing. He complains of not feeling very good, and Sairy, the new wife they meet, lies him down on her mattress in her tent. Granma gets the preacher to come and pray for Grampa, but he is unsure of what to pray for. After much struggling, Grampa dies; the preacher said he died of a stroke, "a quick stroke." They bury Grampa themselves at a private funeral service, and they leave a note with him telling who he was and how he died. The heart-broken and tired families decide to travel together helping each other along. With their camp fire meeting finished, the families fall asleep.
Chapter 12
Chapter twelve of The Grapes of Wrath foreshadows the journey of the Joad family to California. Along the way they meet obstacles such as, car problems, starvation, thirst, and shortage of money. They encounter all this along Route 66, considered the path for refugees and people traveling in distress. "66 is the path of a people in flight, refugees from dust and shrinking land, from the thunder of tractors and shrinking ownership, from the desert's slow northward invasion, from the twisting winds that howl up out of Texas, from the floods that bring no richness to the land and steal what little richness is there. From all of these the people are in flight, and they come into 66 from the tributary side roads, from the wagon tracks and the rutted country roads. 66 is the mother road, the road of flight."
However, the farmers hardships do not just come from their money shortage, starvation, thirst, or car problems or damage. They also suffer from man. The people they meet along the way are not always nice. They cheat them; "... but he tried to steal your four dollars for a busted tire. They call that sound business." Many people did not like the idea of strangers coming in looking for jobs. It was more competition, and hardly any body could afford to be left without a job. Some even tried to turn them back. "'There ain't room enough for you an' me, for your kind an' my kind, for rich and poor together all in one country, for thieves and honest me. Whyn't you go back where you come from?'"
In times of desperation people turned their backs on each other, bringing one another down in order to boost themselves up. This creates the dreary and dark outlook on the book. The idea of "survival of the fittest" creates a cloud of despair and selfishness that looms over the people. Yet in some cases, there was hope. Some people banded together, helping each other along, looking out for one another. This made them stronger. This made the Joad family stronger.
However, the farmers hardships do not just come from their money shortage, starvation, thirst, or car problems or damage. They also suffer from man. The people they meet along the way are not always nice. They cheat them; "... but he tried to steal your four dollars for a busted tire. They call that sound business." Many people did not like the idea of strangers coming in looking for jobs. It was more competition, and hardly any body could afford to be left without a job. Some even tried to turn them back. "'There ain't room enough for you an' me, for your kind an' my kind, for rich and poor together all in one country, for thieves and honest me. Whyn't you go back where you come from?'"
In times of desperation people turned their backs on each other, bringing one another down in order to boost themselves up. This creates the dreary and dark outlook on the book. The idea of "survival of the fittest" creates a cloud of despair and selfishness that looms over the people. Yet in some cases, there was hope. Some people banded together, helping each other along, looking out for one another. This made them stronger. This made the Joad family stronger.
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