The Use of Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

The Use of Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that in my opinion illustrates the terrible conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930s were forced to live under. This novel in a very descriptive and emotional way tells of one familys migration west to California from Oklahoma (the Joad family) through the great economic depression of the 1930s. The story revolves around the family having to abandon their home and their livelihood. They had to uproot and set out across America to California because tractors were very quickly industrializing their farms, and the bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off†¦show more content†¦The dust is symbolic of the erosion of the lives of the people. Its also related to deadness. The land has become a ruined way of life. The farming is gone, and the people are uprooted and forced to leave their homes. The soil, as well as the people, have been drained of life, and have been exploited by big banks and businesses. The last rain fell on the red and gray country of Oklahoma in early May. The weeds became a dark green to protect themselves from the suns unyielding rays....The wind grew stronger, uprooting the weakened corn, and the air became so filled with dust that the stars were not visible at night. As the chapter continues, a turtle, which appears and reappears several times early in the novel, can be seen to stand for survival, a driving life force in all of mankind that cannot be beaten by nature or man. The turtle represents a hope that the trip to the west is survivable by the farmer migrants (Joad family). The turtle further represents the migrants struggles against nature and man by overcoming every obstacle he comes across: the red ant in his path, the truck driver who tries to run over him, and being captured in Tom Joads jacket. And now a light truck approached, and as it came near, the driver saw the turtle and tried to hit the poor thing. T he driver of the truck works for a large company. His company tries to stop the migrants from going west. When the driver attempts to hit the turtle, I think itsShow MoreRelated Comparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Grapes of Wrath968 Words   |  4 PagesComparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck wrote the The Grapes of Wrath in 1939 to rouse its readers against those who were responsible for keeping the American people in poverty. 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. 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John Steinbeck, the author of The Grapes of Wrath, portrays the migrant’s resentment of the California land owners and their way of life and illustrates that the vagrants from Oklahoma are yearning for labor, provisions, and human decency. Similarly in To Kill a MockingbirdRead MoreThe Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck and To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee1413 Words   |  6 Pagesbeing killed in a ditch and covered with quicklime, watch the mountains of oranges slop down to a putrefying ooze; and in the eyes of the people there is a failure; and in the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrathâ⠂¬  (Steinbeck 349). John Steinbeck, the author of The Grapes of Wrath, portrays the migrant’s resentment of the California land owners and their way of life and illustrates that the vagrants from Oklahoma are yearning for labor, provisions, and human decency. Similarly in To Kill a MockingbirdRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck2739 Words   |  11 PagesChristian Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath Since the first civilizations, religion has greatly influenced the development of life. It has been a constant presence in America, tracing back to the Puritans who voyaged to the New World to escape religious persecution. Centuries later, religion has retained its place in American society, being expressed in a variety of ways and particularly emanating in times of struggle and hardship. Amidst a period of great difficulty for average Americans, John SteinbeckRead More Symbols and Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath2004 Words   |  9 PagesSymbols and Symbolism in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath      Ã‚   Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath is extremely complex, with many images drawn from the Old and New Testaments.   However, Steinbeck as usual was eclectic in his use of symbols, and a great deal of the novel is given to either pagan and universal archetypes, or to highly original meanings unique to the authors own vision and experience.   While acknowledging the Judeo-Christian content, these other symbols are just as importantRead MoreEssay on Critical Response to the Grapes of Wrath616 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Steinbeck went into writing about the Dust Bowl migration feeling that he had the responsibility to convey the problem correctly. The Grapes of Wrath not only works as a call to action in favor of the masses of migrant workers that were forced to live in poverty, but also expresses several other messages about mankind itself. Steinbeck uses powerful imagery, unique and suspenseful structure, dramatic tone, and compelling symbolism to effectively squeeze a mountain of an issue into pages of text