In John Steinbeck’s The Grapes Of Wrath, family and sense of community play a large role in the lives of the Joads as well as other families and people that they encounter. The Joads cling to one another during their journey for a sense of belonging and peace of mind. We can see throughout the novel that individuals like Jim Casey, who did not belong to a big family, hold on to this sense of community. Although some family members, like Noah, leave the family, Ma aims to keep the family together. It is human nature to strive for a sense of community and this characteristic is especially pertinent during times of struggle. Occasionally, when some people are faced with hardships, they isolate themselves and break from their community such as Noah and Connie. Apart from this, most people do want this sense of community and people that they are able to lean on. A great example of creating a sense of community is the dance in the camp. Although they are struggling, people are able to come together and create an enjoyable event that allows them to feel normal again and part of a larger community. This part of humanity is brought to life when people are facing hardships.
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Great American Novels 
One reply on “Community During Hardships”
I agree, community is a huge part in Grapes of Wrath and for many that could mean life or death for some like you mentioned. I think Steinbeck really wanted to emphasize the need for community with the constant sense of family togetherness which is one of Ma’s main goals. Though he also wants to show that others might even stray from the responsibility of being with others. Once the hardships came with traveling with family within the Great Depression became apparent Connie and Noah didn’t want the burden of knowing they could let others down so they detached. There can be a thin line between giving up and even staying sane within so much struggle in times like the Great Depression.
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