Essay, Research Paper: Grapes Of Wrath

In the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck the Joad family is faced with the challenge of moving west. The land they once farmed has become dry and dusty. The rich landowners decide they need to cut out the middleman to turn a larger profit. They come with tractors and push over the houses on by one. The Joads are forced to pack up and move to California. Along the way they face many hard ships. However one of the ironies in the novel is that, "If you're in trouble or hurt or need -- go to poor people. They're the only ones that'll help.."(pg. 335). The poor will give their last cent to someone in need, however the rich will brush them aside.

The poor people are taken advantage of because their lack of knowledge about things. In the beginning of the book, Tom learns that his family's house has been pushed over. The land owners had taken this action to increase their profits from the crops on the land. "The orders were, 'Make the land show profit or we'll close you up.'"(pg. 52) In chapter seven a car dealer ripped people off by selling them junk cars for high prices. Cheap tricks were used to hide the noise the cars made. They take advantage of the farmers ignorance of cars and interest rates.

"That seeder cost thirty-eight dollars. Two dollars isn't enough. Can't haul it back -- we'll take it and a bitterness with it."(pg. 117) Junk dealers took advantage of the poor. They gave them as little money as they could for their valuable items. The farmers had to leave and could not take their possessions with them. They had no choice but to sell for any price. "How much? Ten dollars? For both? And the wagon- Oh Jesus Christ! I'd shoot 'em for dog feed first. Oh, take 'em"(pg. 118)

Large landowners hired guards. They lowered wages to keep profits up. They burned excess food to keep the prices up. The rich farm owners would by a cannery. Then they would sell the fruit to themselves for less then the cost of raising. Keeping prices up and costs down drove their profit high. This practice drove small fruit farmers out of business. "And the money that might have gone for wages went for gas, for guns, for agents and spies, for blacklists, for drilling."(pg. 388)

Through out the novel, the acts of kindness by poor people are contrasted to the greed and meanness of the rich. Steinbeck discusses how the wine of the time is made cheaply. Made to a low quality by not sorting the grapes from the stems, good from bad, dirt from fruit. "The great companies did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line."(pg. 388) The poor were treated badly. They were treated as if they were just a product the rich were selling, treated as grapes. "One the highways the people moved like ants and searched for work, for food. And the anger began to ferment."(pg. 388)