Men in Cold Mountain and Grapes of Wrath

One theme we noticed in Grapes of Wrath is the prevalence of some men leaving their families in stressful times. We could also notice this trend in Cold Mountain during the Civil War. Many men deserted the war because it seemed like a hopeless cause. The Confederates even responded by sending out groups of men called the Guard to track down the deserters by any means necessary. Then, during the Great Depression, some men would begin to think their families are better without them: “We ain’t never gonna know if he’s alive or dead. Never gonna know. An’ Connie sneakin’ away. I didn’t give em’ brain room before, but now they’re a flockin’ back” (221). Ma felt her family falling apart. They may never know what will come of Noah and Connie. Noah didn’t feel needed or helpful in their journey and Connie couldn’t take the pressure of having a family of his own in such hard times. Families in Cold Mountain may have felt the same. Some men who ran away from the war might have never returned to their families afraid of the shame of deserting on top of their own guilt. Within two of the darkest parts of US history, many men had to face the chance of letting their families down whether it’s staying with their family or running away from the hardship.