I am still reading The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I've read much farther and now am on page 365 of 502. I haven't read as much as I would have liked to over break, but like I've said before, this is a very complicated book and takes a lot of rereading to comprehend it.
There has been a lot that has gone on in the book since the last time I blogged. Most importantly, the Joads have made it to California, what they believe is there new home. However, like they were warned, it is nothing like they thought it would be. All of the residents of California don't want any "Okies" coming into their home in fear of a rebellion. Everyone who has travelled to California (hundreds of thousands of people) are incredibly malnourished and have no money, and worst of all...there's no work. The Joads started out with twelve people and are now down to eight (either from death or the person willingly left).
I began this book last year, but shortly into it I wuit from boredom and lack of understanding. What I realize now is that if I would have read just a little bit more I would have realized that this is a phenomenal book; it's great. It has drama, humor, love, family...and most importantly, it's realistic. The Grapes of Wrath is based on the Great Depression and the migration of immense amounts of people travelling to California, so it is partially factual. The great thing about this book, though, is that it shows the true horror of what these "Okies" had to go through. They literally had to go through Hell to just get to California, and now that they're there they're being treated like dirt. I am almost 100% positive that I will never go through what the Joads had to go through, but after reading through this book I know that I'd probably never survive what they had to go through. It must be absolute torture, and Steinbeck did a great job portraying that pain. That is also why Steinbeck wrote this book, I believe; to show the pain and suffering that these innocent people had to go through. Also, to make it known to his readers that most of us probably wouldn't survive.
The theme, now, is suffering. Also, how the Joads handled their suffering. How would you feel if you gave up everything (your home for the last 200 years, your possessions, your family items, personal items...everything), to live a better life. First of all, how would you feel after doing this? I know that I would rather die then leave everything behind. What the Joads are doing...it's like starting over; and that's incredibly hard to do. Just imagine what it would feel like to have to give that up, and then not know if the end result would be worth it. Then, after giving everything up, you realize that it in fact was not worth it. You threw away everything for nothing. Most of us will never have to do this, and I hope that no one will ever have to do this...but just thinking about it is what Steinbeck is trying to make us think about. Do you think that you could do what the Joads did?
The best character, now, is Ma. She is the strongest person in the family, and probably one of the strongest characters I've ever read. In the book, when they're almost to California, she does something that stands out to me, but I really don't understand it. She lies to the guards about Grandma being sick, even though she was really dead. Something about her lying and risking everyone's life (mostly hers), just makes me think about her in awe. She would risk her life to get her family into a better place. and that's a quality in a person that is very rare.
"They had no arguement, no system, mothing but their numbers and their needs. When there was work for a man, ten men fought for it- fought with a low wage. If that fella'll work for thirty cents, I'll work for twenty-five...If he'll take twenty-five, I'll do it for twenty...No, me, I'm hungry. I'll work for fifteen. I'll work for food. The kids. You ought to see them. Little boils, like, comin' out an' they can't run aroun'. Give em' some windfall fruit, an' they bloated up. Me, I'll work for a little piece of meat." This quote, though not the most important, tells a great amount of information about the "Okies". It shows the desperation that they hold for work...and most importantly, for food. These people are on the brink of death from starvation, and they'll do anything for some food; they'll even give up the opportunity of money. Then, imagine how many people would kill for a job, even for a job that pays in food. All of the men, they're trying to make the best offer to the employer to get hired; they're incredibly desperate.
I'm hoping to finish the book soon, within two weeks. I've spoken to Mr. Cocking about The Grapes of Wrath, and he immediately told me that it was an incredible book, but the last page is what makes it banned from many schools. So, I'm very excited to get to the ending and read the controversy that makes this great book so bad.
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