"Grapes of Wrath" was like a breath of fresh air after reading Huck. This book made us remember some of America's darkest days. Right off the bat I enjoyed this book, the way the author wrote made me feel as though I was there with them while they watched their homes being ripped from them. The book ended in a very ironic way. With the rain coming and ruining everything while in the beginning the rain would've saved everything. The coldness and cruelty of the bankers and land owners and when the other migrants were prepared to sell out their friends for their own benefit showed how America was slowly turning into a country where you could only look out for your own well-fare and not burden yourself with other people's suffering.
One quote that really stood out to me was at the end of chapter twenty-five "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage," although I am not entirely sure what the ending means, I hope someone can clear that up for me. The character that I liked was Grandpa. He was stubborn and hard headed, but a true family man, I was sad that he had to die although maybe it was best he didn't feel the hardness of life in California. The Joad's dealt with many disappointments in their lives but a admire them for not giving up.
Although she was far from perfect, at times she seemed difficult, Ma was a character I admired. Sometimes she came off as mean, but she was scared. Scared for her family, scared of the sketchy future, and scared for her life. Ma honestly was the glue of the family, I deeply respect her. It really bugs me when people think they're better then other people because of something as petty like where you're from. It's not like the migrants wanted to go to California, what else were they supposed to do? Be run over by tractors or starved to death? I wish those people could walk a few miles in the farmers shoes, see how it feels to have everything that mattered to you stripped from you by the bank then forced to work hard labor for barely enough money to live of. This book was something I'm really glad we read, it literally gives me chills to think that my grandparents were only a couple years younger then me when this was happening.
The irony you speak of is unbelievable. Rain can be very helpful or very destructive. Either way, it is cleansing. Great observation about the irony. Your peers' reactions to Ma are mixed. Many of them did not like her character. But I like what you say about her being scared. When we are scared, we act differently and sometimes out of character. I think you are right about Ma and how she is trying to keep it together, the "glue" so-to-say. Very good observations.
ReplyDeleteIf this book bothered you about walking in other people's shoes and not seeing things from their perspectives, I am anxious to see what you have to say about Gatsby.