Chapters 27-30: The Ghost of Tom Joad

In Tom saying "Well, maybe like Casy says, a fella ain't got a soul of his own, but on'y a piece of a big one - an' then it don't matter. Then I'll be all aroun' in the dark. I'll be ever'where - whereever you look. Whereever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whereever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there. If Casy knowed, why, 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 an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build - why, I'll be there. See?"  he is showing that even though he is gone his spirit and ideas will live on through the lives of others.  By the end of the book, Tom stands up for what he truly believes in which is protection for the little guy.  He wants to ensure that no matter what happens or what the situation, the right thing will be done.  He knows that due to the goodness of people that the poor, hungry, and ill will be taken care of by those who have enough to share.  I believe that Tom feels this way largely due to his mother who has all made sure to help those in need no matter how little the family has.  Tom has come to the conclusion that the migrants will make their lives better for themselves.  He shows through his actions and words that he truly believes that the people can strive for and reach the American Dream.  This shows a clear difference in the leadership of the poor and the rich.  With the rich,  whoever has the most material possessions will be the man in charge.  With the poor, it is extremely different.  It does not depend on the amount of things you have, but it depends on the amount of character a man has.  If a man is able to hold true to his integrity and hold a bright outlook on life, he will be the true leader of the people.  This is what keeps the poor going and what gives Tom faith in society.  he knows that the large majority of those less fortunate in America will stick to their morals and eventually come out on top of the deepest depths of the problems they are having.  

Chapters 21-26: What Jail Taught a Preacher

Casy realized that people can make a difference.  While in jail the situation with the beans opened Casy's eyes to see that there is a possibility to make a difference.  He saw that only one person who fights against what they know is wrong will not make a difference, but when people come together for a common purpose it can change things in a big way.  Perhaps the situation with the beans was not that big of a deal to the reader or the other characters in the book, but it was life changing for Casy.  When Tom talks to Casy for the first time after he was in jail, there is a clear difference in Casy's demeanor and attitude.  It appears that Casy is a much more outspoken person and is not fearful of saying what is on his mind.  Casy has been a talker throughout the book, but his arguments and speeches appear to carry much more weight and make much more sense after his eyes were opened in the jail.  The idea that Casy has of people coming together to achieve a goal is very important to the rest of the novel.  It expresses the entire idea of changing your life for the better.  The time Casy spent in jail made him notice that there is a possibility of making your situation better.  If the families come together and stand up for their rights they can make a change.  This is why Casy joined the group of people protesting because he has found a cause that he is passionate about fighting for.  He wants the workers to be treated fair, and he wants to keep the American Dream alive.    

Chapters 17-20: Life in Hooverville

Life in the Hoovervilles is quite a shock for all of the Joads.  The Joads are a proud people and they are not used to having to lowering their living standards so much.  Even though they are around people that are described a "bull-simple" the Joads have the ability to uphold the integrity of their character.  This is exemplified perfectly at the scene with the stewpot.  Ma is cooking the last of their meat for the family to eat.  As she starts to cook, children start to gather due to the aroma of the cooking food.  Ma is type of person that no matter how little she has there is always enough to share with others.  So instead of turning the children away, she tells them all to grab their spoons and come back for a taste of the stew.  This shows how even though the conditions are rough the Joads and especially Ma are never below helping others.  As the situation with the police arises, this togetherness in the Hooverville is seen again.  Ma says, "We're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people - we go on."  She is showing the drive that she has, and this drive that she has has the ability to push the family onward.  She showing how all across America at this time people are coming together to rise up against the oppression from a corrupt law enforcement.  She is showing that no matter what goes wrong or what could go wrong, the people are coming together as one to fight for better lives. 

Chapters 14-16: "This is the beginning - from 'I' to 'we.'" (Redo)

Chapter 14 expresses a feeling of unity between troubled families.  The people who were struck by disaster and cheated by the banks are beginning to come together with a common cause and enemy.  They are against the banks, and they will do anything do help each other achieve their goal of reaching the west.  Families come together to share food, clothing, shelter, and most importantly moral support.  People who were complete strangers a few days before, are brought together.  They make life long bonds and become as close as family as you can be without being related.  The people realize that they have little, but they are willing to make sacrifices to help out their fellow man.  This is shown in Chapter 15 in the scene at the truck stop.  ""Could you see your way to sell us a loaf of bread, ma'am?" Mae said, "This ain't no grocery store. We got bread to make san'widges."  "I know ma'am." His humility was insistent.  "We need bread and there ain't nothin' for quite a piece, they say."  "'F we sell bread we gonna run out." Mae's tone was faltering.... From behind her Al growled, " Gad Almighty, Mae, give 'em bread."" (page 159)  This shows how even those with little are able to help out the people with less. No matter how dire the situation or rough the times, there will always be some one with less who has a higher need than the people who appear to be at rock bottom.  The feeling of unity is also shown in Chapter 16 at the junk yard. ""Cover it up then goddamn it. Ya stickin' it out like a cow's ass. Ya like to feel sorry for yaself. There ain't nothin' the matter with you.  Buy yaself some white pants.  Ya gettin' drunk an' cryin' in ya bed, I bet..."(page 180)  This is what Tom said to a man he has just met who was feeling sorry for himself because he only had one eye.  This shows how the people are able to give life changing advice to people they don't know and inspire them to change their lives.  The people are not fearful to be blunt in order to help their fellow man in becoming better people.  The people are growing closer through trouble and helping each other grow stronger and travel easier.

Chapters 7-13: Personal Connections (Redo)

The Grapes of Wrath is a very interesting book.  It is filled with trials, tribulations, and hardships.  On the other hand, it shows a family, the Joads, coming together to overcome all of those trials.  No matter what goes wrong the Joads are able to push on and put the bad behind them.  I am highly enjoying The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck because it shows how the American people were able to push on despite the hard times.  It shows that even though the odds were against them and what they were trying to do, the American people would ignore the doubtful and strive towards their dreams.  An example of what I mean is on page 91 and 92.  "A shadow crossed her face. "Oh that ain't so," she said.  "Your father got a han'bill on yella paper, tellin' how they need folks to work.  They wouldn' go to that trouble if they wasn't plenty of work...""   In this section Tom and his Ma are talking.  She is saying how great California will be.  Ma has heard that the jobs are plentiful and the pay is high, but there is a sense of doubt in Tom.  Tom says that he knows someone from California who said the opposite was true.  Ma hearing this from Tom chooses to push it to the back of her mind and say it is impossible that it is true.  I think this is interesting because even though Ma trusts Tom and knows that there is a chance of him being right, she chooses to practically lie to herself to keep her confidence and spirit high.  I am looking forward to reading the rest of this book because the story of the Joads has peaked my interest.  Their story puts many questions into my mind.  Will they successfully make it to California? Will they find work?  Will Tom get caught? Will any more of their family die? These questions and many more are why I am excited to continue reading.  

Chapters 3-6: Economic and Political Pressures

The banks hit every single family hard.  They owned the farmer's land, their homes, and their equipment.  A family's entire livelihood, what they had spent their entire lives working for, was gone in an instant.  The banks were struggle and could not afford for the poor families to live on their land.  They viewed these families as parasites just mooching off of their land.  Some families, however, worked with the banks to continue their easy going life of farming.  These families found a way to strike a deal with the banks.  They would continue to live in their homes, but they would plow the entire lot of land which tended to have multiple other families living on it.  The families were only trying to look out for their own.  They realized that even though the banks were evil, conniving, and corrupt monsters, they must continue to make money some how.  The families "betrayed" their neighbors to be able to continue to support their family.  From the other point of view, the farmers who were forced to leave were livid but understanding at the same time.  For example, Grampa Joad shot at the tractor that was coming toward their land, but Grampa would not shoot the man who was driving the tractor.  Both the driver and Grampa understand that Grampa was angry and was only trying to defend what was his.  They also understood that Grampa was not going to take the man's life because the driver was only doing what he could to make a buck.

Chapters 1-2: Meeting Tom Joad

This first meeting of Tom Joad and the truck driver truly displays the attitude and demeanor of Tom Joad.  This first encounter shows that Tom Joad is a very self-confident and sure of himself.  He is good with his words and able to persuade others in to seeing things his way.  This introduction clearly shows all of these character traits.  Joad uses his sly words in order to catch a ride with the truck driver who is blatantly breaking his company rules by doing so.  Joad's smooth speech puts the truck driver in a spot in which he would prefer not to be.  The truck driver has the choice to say no to Joad and ensure that his job will not be at risk, or he has the option of giving Joad a ride, risking his job, and "being a good guy".  The truck driver makes a significant choice in choosing to give Joad a ride.  The truck driver's action shows that even though times are tough economically, people are willing to risk their source of income to be viewed as a "good guy".  The driver realizes that just because some rich man tells him to not allow riders on his truck, he is not willing to sacrifice his moral standards of helping out a man in need.  This choice also shows that the poor class shares a certain connection of sticking it to the man.  They stand together with each other to prove that no matter what the rich people tell them to do; they will support each other and aid each other in any way possible.