A book that is has become very popular is The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck. His social commentary follows the story of the Joad family. The
book has caused a good deal of controversy since its publication, and has even
influenced legislative change. Soon after its publication, the book reached No.
1 as a bestseller in America. In its first year alone it sold 429,000 copies.
It has also won the Pulitzer Prize.
In the novel, the Joad family leaves their home in Oklahoma, seeking
a new, happier life in California. But, they soon find out that life in
California is far from what they expected. Living is a struggle, and they must
fight just to survive. It is an eye-opening tale that takes the reader into the
life of a family that is greatly affected by the Great Depression.
Steinbeck was prompted to write this novel because he wanted to
share the story of the migrants. Also, as a Californian, he saw the migrants
come into the state, poor and homeless, looking for work. Unlike many of his
contemporaries, however, Steinbeck was distressed by the living conditions, and
poor lives of the migrants. He believed that by sharing their story, more
people would be sympathetic to the migrants, and try to help them. The main
reason Steinbeck wrote this book is because he wanted to change the lives of
the migrants, and open the eyes of the rest of the world.
In
the novel Steinbeck created a speaker who is all knowing, intelligent and
incredibly sympathetic to the migrants. The speaker’s tone is usually calm,
rational, and somewhat mournful. This is especially so when the speaker is
discussing the Joad family. Yet, there are chapters when the speaker is
impassioned and angered at the cruelty, and violence of people toward the
migrants.
The audience for this book would be those who had the ability to
help the migrants. This includes landowners, politicians, and businessmen,
among others. But, the book was ill received by many of the people it was meant
for. Steinbeck was accused of harboring communist sympathies because he took
the side of the migrants, instead of taking the side of the wealthy. The book
was burned, banned and censored in many places, including Steinbeck’s own hometown,
for many different reasons. Some said that Steinbeck exaggerated the terrible
living conditions of the migrants, although he had not. Others looked down upon the vulgar language
used in the book. But, again, Steinbeck was accurately portraying the migrants
by imitating the way they speak. California landowners even tried to discredit
the novel, because they were upset with its content, and the way in which
Steinbeck depicted them in the novel.
Although
many were unhappy with Steinbeck’s book, there were many others who praised the
novel. Among these people was first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. She defended the
book, and even led congressional hearings on the living conditions of the
migrant workers. The novel also influenced legislative change with President
Roosevelt’s New Deal. The New Deal first initiated programs of business and
agricultural regulation, and public works. These programs were created to
provide relief and recovery from the Great Depression. The New Deal also
created emergency organizations like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
and others, many of which are still operating today. The New Deal also created
legislative changes, and did much more to try and ease the burden of the Great
Depression.
The
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a novel that is integral to American
history. It has created a great deal of controversy, as well as help the
American people by influencing legislative change that would benefit most of
the country.
