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.