The Grapes of Wrath- Reflection

This blog post is a reflection on The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I enjoyed reading this novel because I learned more about what life was like during the Dust Bowl. Prior to this novel, I had never read anything that was based on life during that time period, so I was interested throughout. Even though this novel was just based on one family, The Joads, other families are seen briefly throughout the novel. The reader can see how difficult life was for these families, many of them having to completely pack up their lives and move out west in search of jobs and food. One quote I like from this novel is, “’I know.’ Ma chuckled. ‘Maybe that makes us tough. Rich fellas come up an’ they die, an’ their kids ain’t no good, an’ they die out. But, Tom, we keep a-comin’. Don’ you fret none, Tom. A different time’s comin’.” Ma is explaining to Tom how they need to keep working hard and that even though they’re struggling now, their lives will get better and good things are on the way. I think this quote really represents the theme of perseverance in the novel. No matter how many times the Joad family gets knocked down, there’s always someone there to keep them going. They go through so many struggles throughout the novel, including starvation and the struggle of finding jobs. Their will to persevere and survive is what eventually helps the Joad family find jobs and have a roof over their heads.