The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
reviewed by Kathryn Gerhardt
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, follows the story of a family from Oklahoma and their migration to California. The touching story takes place in the 1930’s during the time of the great dust bowl. The bank forced many families off of their farms and all they have ever known. Of these families included the Joads. The story begins when Tom Joad, the main character, is released from prison on parole after killing a man in self defense. He returns home only to find that his relatives and neighbors have packed their belongings and set off for the fertile land of California. With the help of a retired reverend and his wit Tom sets off to find his family.
Tom locates his family living in very tight quarters at his uncle John’s house. He discovers that while he has been gone for four years many things have changed. His father informs him that the bank forced their family and all of their neighbors off of the land they have lived on for generations. The tenants were unable to pay their rent because dust had destroyed the crops. The Joads decided to make the thousand mile journey to California. People from all over have received news that California is the promised land with good wages and bountiful food. To Tom’s mother, the new land seems too good to
be true. After tragedies along the way, the journey raises the question; is California really worth it?
I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for family and history. I would not recommend this book to anybody under high school. It is a challenging read but worth every word. Steinbeck captures the heartbreak of losing family and the joy of new life. The story is one of love and death. Through everything the Joad family was there for one another. Steinbeck proved through this story that there is nothing more valuable than that of family.
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