Why Grapes Of Wrath Is Brilliant
Why Grapes Of Wrath Is Brilliant
The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of the Joad family, migrant farmers from Oklahoma traveling to California in search of an illusion of prosperity. The novel's strong attitude stirred up much controversy and was banned from schools and stores due to its vulgar language. This story, winning the Pulitzer Prize, is considered to be John Steinback’s greatest work. What makes this novel such a masterpiece is its use of symbolism, its description about history and its use of intercalary chapters.
A first reason why Steinback’s novel is such a work of art is because of his use of symbolism. Steinback fills the novel with incredible symbolism, from Tom Joad crushing the grasshopper, to the famous turtle chapter. Also when Uncle John sends the dead baby down the river it is another use of symbolism. These symbols give a deeper meaning to the novel. When Tom Joad crushes the grasshopper it symbolizes the banks crushing the farms with the bulldozers. The famous turtle chapter symbolizes the Joad family in their struggle to reach California and the car that strikes the turtle and sets it back is symbolized as big business and the growing economy which sets the Joads back. Uncle John sending the dead baby down the river symbolizes Moses being sent down the river as an infant. All these symbols enhance and deepen the novel's meaning and are a strong factor in making this an award-winning novel.
Secondly, the novel The Grapes of Wrath was such a success because of the realism of Steinback’s description of history. This novel, written in the 1930’s portrays great truth about what actually took place in the early nineteen hundreds. The dirty thirties were a time of poverty for everyone, not only the farmers. With the crash of the stock exchange and the drought everybody was in trouble. Those who were wealthier than others took land from those of inferior quality, so they could survive through the tough time. Also referred to as the Dust Bowl in the novel, the thirties were a time of hardship on the farmers with the drought alone. No crops would grow with out rain so this hurt farm families a great deal. Not to mention the landowners sending the farmers off their land, which is what...