The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

 The Grapes of Wrath - by John Steinbeck

The story revolves around the Joad family, during the time of great American depression. The family moves away from Oklahoma after loosing all of their land to banks, whose loan they can’t repay. They are joined by Tom Joad, a convict of murder and John Casey a preacher. They pack, sell all other stuff and move to the promised land of California due to availability of work via road. While on road they realise they are not the only one but seems like entire population along with family is moving the same way in search of work. After arriving they realise that proportion of worker to work is large, due to which the land owners are offering unreasonable wages and exploiting. The migrants due to hunger of the family have no option but to accept any wages as long as they are paid, using which they can buy food. They migrants depict the principles of hard-work, honour and strength during setback. During the time even a good meal becomes difficult and family has to move from one place to another in search of work. The financial status between the migrants and landowners have become so large that its inviting rebellion from the migrants. Forming union is treated aggressively by the police and owners, and crushed as soon as they become aware. Such times questions the belief on Religion, John Casey a preacher after seeing the condition of his fellow men gets a change of heart and wants to help rather than preach. He gets killed while organising union against the unfair situation. Tom out on bail kills a policeman who killed Casey. Whatever small work was available, vanishes as soon as rain starts. Pregnant Rose gives birth to a dead child and in the end scene milks a dying man in order to save his life. The novel depicts the status of migrants in a heart melting way. Abundant are the American values of hard working labor class, helping each other out during adversity.