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In what ways does John Steinbeck use the societal circumstances of ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ to convey the depths of human nature?
Through “The Grapes of Wrath”, Steinbeck is able to illustrate two concepts in great detail. The first of those is opportunism and oppression, and how they coincide. As Steinbeck is able to successfully demonstrate the reactions that occur as a result of changes within the economic and social circumstances. During the text, Steinbeck uses the oppression of the working class to demonstrate the cruelty and greed of the landowners and big banks, “We know. We’ve got to take cotton quick before the land dies. Then we’ll sell the land.” Steinbeck goes further to state that “they had long ago found that one could not be an owner unless one were cold.” Illustrating the idea that the landowners must be looking in the direction of their best interests. Steinbeck demonstrates the effects that oppression has even on those who would be classed as better off, stating that an environmental disaster had taken place and had shifted the mindsets of the landowners, “Some of the owner men were kind because they hated what they had to do, and some of them were angry because they hated to be cruel”. From this, Steinbeck is able to illustrate the change in situation will be the main influence on the actions of man, regardless of morality. Steinbeck characterizes this shift in mindset through the landowners and “bank monsters”. Where not only has the disaster forced the shift within the landowner’s mindset, but the bank’s sudden enforcement of debt collection has forced the landowners to collect from the “squatters” resulting in “fifteen or twenty families can’t eat at all”. In complete disregard to the families, the banks take away their one and only source of income. Forcing even the strongest of willed people to switch careers to something they once stood against, such as the tractor driver who believed that carrying out his best interests was the only way to survive “Got to think of my own kids. Three dollars a day”. The growing greed of the banks has resulted in the instinctive human survival instincts becoming more prevalent, as those who are in search of any source of income are forced into seasonal work on big farms. Where the jobs are so scarce that it comes to an “every man for himself” situation. Through the depiction of this scenario, Steinbeck is able to convey the idea that power of any magnitude is destined to be corrupted. Where the opportunity to abuse power for the sake of personal gain will occur as it is human nature. Contrastingly, Steinbeck is also able to illustrate how opportunism can lead to hope and community. As the main set of characters is shown to be in dire straits but are able to make the most of it, as they believe that there will always the opportunity to regain what they once had. The Joad family is seen to stick to their moral compass and make decisions that are beneficial to all parties involved, regardless of the outcome. However, unlike the Joad family, the landowners and the big banks are shown to be “cold” and heartless, as it is their greed and desire that drives them. Through the separation of classes, Steinbeck is successfully able to present his idea on the corruption on power and how it is best achieved through the growing divide between the social classes.
In ‘The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck illustrates the perseverance shown by those experiencing oppression from the land owners due to the recent change in the social circumstances. Steinbeck introduces Muley to represent those who fight against the bank owners to remain on their land, despite the difficulty or the favorable outcome of being shot “They ain’t gettin’ rid me. If they throw me off, I’ll come back”. Muley’s mentality is recognized as idiotic as the odds are not in his favor, however, the human nature of Muley shows perseverance as he fights for what he has pride in and his family has worked for “My pa come here fifty years ago. An’ I ain’t a-goin’”. Joad’s Grampa also shows perseverance as Muley expresses “Your grampa stood out here with a rifle, and he blew the headlights off the cat”, the same mentality is seen within Ma where Joad states “An’ Ma ain’t nobody you can push around neither”. Muley found himself struggling to survive on his land without work providing an income as he ashamedly states he was eating “frogs an’ squirrels an’ prairie dogs”, however, didn’t see this as an option as he “had to do it” showing how he shows dedication to remaining on the land he grew up on and the human nature of standing in what he believed in as he expresses “Somepin jus’ wouldn’t let me’. Steinbeck shows the passion individuals had in their land through highlighting the effort and dedication they put into fighting for what believed was theirs, however, “Lot a the folks jus’ got tired out lookin’ for someone to be mad at”, although did not give up on hope and continues to persevere to find success. The Joad family continue to display faith and hope for successful living conditions as “they been choppin’ cotton, all of ’em, even the kids an’ your grampa”, in hopes of buying “a car and shove on the west where it’s easy living. John Steinbeck shows the struggle of the Joad family as they desperately attempt to salvage money from selling their belongings ‘we sol’ all the stuff at our place and the whole bunch of us chopped cotton, even Grampa’. The faith of the family can also be recognized through the perseverance of progressing further in hopes of work despite the obstacles they face “Damn ol’ tires on this truck ain’t gonna go far. Got a couple of wore out spares. Pick stuff up along the road, I guess”. Steinbeck shows the human nature of Muley to demonstrate to the reader how the social circumstance of being forcefully controlled by a higher power can impact an individual’s mentality to persevere. The human nature of the Joad family continuously persevering to gather money to travel to California through hard work, allows Steinbeck to illustrate that the human nature of individuals differs through the change of social circumstance through the oppression of higher a higher power.
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