Steinbeck Critical Analysis When John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath the United States was amidst the Great Depression. Life was hard for the average American during the 1930s. The Depression was the worst and longest period of high unemployment and low business activity in modern times. An ecological terror, known as the Dust Bowl, further complicated matters for small farmers. These two phenomena allowed Steinbeck to create his best selling and most influential book, The Grapes of Wrath. To appeal to these victims of the Depression, Steinbeck contained highly socialistic characters and ...

• Word Count: 1670
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School