All You Need to Know About Grapes of Wrath

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1. In the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Tom Joad is the protagonist. Tom Joad and his family desperately want to find work and establish themselves in a place that they can call home. 2. The antagonist in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is the entity of “the bank.” Throughout the novel it is “the bank” that is blamed for ridding the Oakies of their land and their pride. 3. The conflict of the story is that the Great Depression is causing many farmers from the southern states of America to loose their jobs. Consequently, millions of families were forced to migrate to the western state of California. It is there that the families hope to find work and make enough money to provide for them. Unfortunately, the families are not welcomed by the people of California and very few Oakies are actually able to receive jobs. 4. Callous: - “Homicide,” he said quickly. “That’s a big word- means I killed a guy. Seven years. I’m sprung in four for keepin’ my nose clean” (page 13). - “If you done somepin you was ashamed of, you might think about that. But, Hell, if I seen Herb Turnball comin’ for me with a knife right now, I’d squash him down with a shovel again” (page 54). - "Now look-a-here, fella. You got that eye wide open. An' ya dirty, ya stink. Ya jus' askin' for it. Ya like it. Lets ya feel sorry for yaself. 'Course ya can't get no woman with that empty eye flappin' aroun'. Put somepin over it an' wash ya face" (page 229). Defiant: - “Then I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be ever'where wherever you look. Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an' I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready. An' when our folk eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses

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