The Grapes of Wrath - Lifestyle in the 1930s Essay -- essays research

The Grapes of Wrath is a historical and fictional novel that was written by John Steinbeck in 1939. He wanted to show his point of view of life in US during the years of Great Depression. This essay will talk about the lifestyle the public had during that time which dramatically changed conditions that the environment in we stern part of US had. The plot of Steinbeck?s work of fiction is rooted in the historical and social events of 1930s America, specifically the environmental disaster in Oklahoma. Drought had been a serious problem for the Great Plains region of the United States for many decades prior to the 1930s. Meanwhile, poor farming techniques of numerous sharecroppers had decimated the agricultural capacity of the land, the harsh cotton crops robbing soil of its nutrients. These two conditions combined to make if difficult for farmers to make a profitable crop. With the stock market crash of 1929 and the following decline in the U.S. economy, banks became desperate for a way to get back losses. Maintaining that it was more lucrative to be cultivated by a corporation, land companies began removing families from their farms. In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, the subsequent events described as adventures of the main characters of the novel. The novel begins as the main character, Tom Joad, is released from an Oklahoma state prison after serving four years for killing a man. He makes his way back to his family?s farm and meets Jim Casy, a former preacher who is not preaching anymore. He goes with Tom to his home and finds out that it deserted. Muley Graves, an old neighbor, tells that everyone has been expelled off the land. The next day, Tom and Jim go to Uncle Jones place. When they arrive, Tom finds Ma and Pa Joad pa... ... cycle. In Casy?s statement that ?maybe it?s all men an? all omen in love,? we find the idea of humanism. John Steinbeck?s The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939. It has a great historical significance to American history. It discusses the life in Oklahoma, California and other states of America during the period of Great Depression. This novel illustrates life of poor people who had to leave their land, move to a new place and try to survive there. However, the book covered only the occurrence of this period in one part of US history, which was west side. The Grapes of Wrath could have also included what was life like in eastern part of the country. It would also be helpful if the author included the role of the government in that period. Through the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck wanted to demonstrate the lifestyle of the people in the 1930?s.