Grapes of Wrath Literary Analysis
John Steinbeck is a strong, outspoken writer. This book is based during the dustbowl. He dedicates this book to the families who went through this part of history. He is a writer who wants to reveal to us the experience that this people revealed to us. How does he do this? Steinbeck used symbolism and the conflict to display the theme.
Rose Sharon’s pregnancy itself is a major symbolism in this book. She loses her husband on the way to California and Grandpa and Grandma pass away as well. However, even after all of this loss her pregnancy symbolizes the promise of new life. Because, even after losing people that are close to them, life continues onward. This pregnancy brings together the entire group of people into a family. Together they pull through the hardships they face and they bond together even stronger. Then the baby is born, only to die shortly afterward. It is a cruel symbolism at the end Rose Sharon’s symbolized hope, the promise of new life, and was something that brought the family together then to have it torn away cruelly in the end.
This book is based during the time of the dustbowl. When the main character Tom Joad is released from prison and he goes to join his family and the horrors are revealed to him when he joins his family. People forcibly evicted from their homes, drought, and starvation. People are going on a trip to salvation, California, where they hope to find jobs only to not find one. Once again they are faces with cruelty, the police treat them like garbage and they receive no respect. Time and time again this family is faced with cruelty.
The symbolism and conflict in this book reveals to us the themes. The saving grace that is this family and inhumanity toward other human beings. Steinbeck wrote this book to reveal to us the life people had to experience during the dustbowl. This book is a book full of tragedy, hope, cruelty, and family. This book is truly an inspiration and I will cherish...