... Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, is a story that takes place in the 1930's, the time of the depression and the dust bowl. The Joad family is forced from their home when the crops do not grow and money becomes short. Like most of the western farmers, they pack up and move to California. During the long, hard trip many members of ... book, Ma is the head of the family. She tells the Joads what is going to be done and where they're going. "Pa sniffled, " Seems like times is changed,' he said sarcastically. "Time was when a man said what we do. Seems like women is tellin' now." (P...

• Word Count: 554
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... even go so far as to be mad at God for sending them the dustbowl itself. Steinbeck calls this cruelty they endure a "crime that goes beyond denunciation," a "sorrow that weeping cannot symbolize," and a "failure that topples all success." (477) Men, women, and children alike are dying of starvation and malnutrition because rather than give the food that cannot be sold to the people ... ; they burn it to keep the market value high. With this, the people become infuriated that such a waste of food could save the lives of the ones they love, their family. Steinbeck immortalizes the situatio...

• Word Count: 647
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School