Summary
John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath stands as one of the most influential works of 20th- century American literature. Published in 1939, this Pulitzer Prize-winning epic tells the story of the Joad family's migration from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. Through their struggles, Steinbeck vividly depicts the plight of migrant workers and the economic hardships faced by millions during the Dust Bowl era. Controversial upon release for its unflinching social criticism, The Grapes of Wrath went on to win both critical acclaim and massive popular success. It was the bestselling book of 1939 and has since been recognized as one of the greatest American novels. Steinbeck's stark prose and memorable characters have left an indelible mark on American culture.
Plot
Set during the Great Depression, The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family, tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and changes in the agricultural industry. With their farm foreclosed by the bank, the Joads set out for California along with thousands of other “Okies” seeking jobs, land, dignity, and a future. The narrative begins as Tom Joad is paroled from prison and hitchhikes home, only to find his family packing up to leave for California.
As the Joads make their way west on Route 66, their situation grows increasingly desperate. The elderly Joad grandparents die along the journey. Reaching California, they find the state oversupplied with labor; wages are low, and workers are exploited to the point of starvation. The Joads move from one migrant camp to another, looking for work, struggling against hunger and hostility from locals. A former preacher who travels with the family, Jim Casy, becomes a labor organizer and is later killed while striking.
Tom Joad witnesses Casy's murder and kills the attacker in response, forcing him to flee and live in hiding. The family finds work as strikebreakers in a peach orchard, but discover they are earning barely enough to buy food. They leave for a cotton farm, where Tom must stay hidden to avoid arrest. Knowing he must leave to avoid capture and protect his family, Tom bids farewell to his mother and vows to continue fighting for the oppressed.
As the novel concludes, the Joad family continues to struggle. Rose of Sharon, Tom's sister, delivers a stillborn baby. When floods force the family to seek shelter in a barn, they encounter a boy and his starving father. In the book's final scene, Rose of Sharon breastfeeds the dying man, symbolizing the human capacity for generosity and survival even in the most desperate circumstances.
Themes
Struggle for dignity and survival during hardship
Importance of family and community bonds
Social injustice and exploitation of workers
Man's inhumanity to man
Transformation through adversity
Hope and perseverance in the face of despair
Conflict between the powerful and the powerless
Setting
The Grapes of Wrath is set during the Great Depression of the 1930s, a time of severe economic hardship and widespread unemployment in the United States. The novel opens in Oklahoma, which, along with surrounding states, formed the Dust Bowl, a region devastated by drought and dust storms. This environmental disaster, combined with bank foreclosures, forced many farmers off their land.
The story follows the Joad family as they make the long journey west along Route 66 to California. Much of the novel takes place on the road, depicting the harsh realities faced by migrant workers traveling in search of opportunity. Steinbeck vividly describes the landscapes, towns, and campgrounds the Joads encounter during their trek across the American Southwest.
Upon reaching California, the Joads discover their struggles are far from over. The narrative explores various settings within California's agricultural region, including migrant camps, labor camps run by the Farm Security Administration, and the farms and orchards where the Joads seek work. Through these settings, Steinbeck illustrates the exploitation of migrant workers and the conflict between wealthy landowners and impoverished laborers in Depression-era California.
Characters
Tom Joad: The novel’s protagonist and moral center. Recently released from prison, Tom is quick-tempered but thoughtful. He struggles with his violent past and eventually commits to fighting for social justice. As the family faces increasing hardship, Tom grows from a self-interested individual to a man dedicated to defending the rights of the oppressed.
Ma Joad: The matriarch who holds the family together through sheer will and love. Ma is a strong, determined woman who adapts to their difficult circumstances while maintaining her compassion. She emerges as the true leader of the family, making difficult decisions to ensure their survival and unity.
Jim Casy: A former preacher who has lost his faith but maintains a strong moral code. Casy becomes a labor organizer and Christ-like martyr figure. His philosophical musings deeply influence Tom's worldview and eventual commitment to social causes.
Rose of Sharon: Tom's younger sister who begins the novel newly married and pregnant. Initially childish and self-centered, Rose of Sharon matures through hardship. After losing her baby, she performs an act of profound compassion at the novel's end, symbolizing hope for humanity.
Pa Joad: The family patriarch who becomes increasingly passive as the journey progresses. Pa struggles with his diminished role as the family’s provider and protector.
Al Joad: Tom's 16-year-old brother, who is mechanically inclined and helps maintain the family truck. Al matures throughout the journey and finds romance with Aggie Wainwright.
Uncle John: Pa Joad's brother, who is plagued by guilt over his wife's death. He often turns to alcohol to cope with his pain.
Granma and Grampa Joad: The elderly grandparents who die early in the family's journey, symbolizing the end of their old way of life.
Ruthie and Winfield Joad: The two youngest Joad children who provide moments of innocence and playfulness amidst the family's struggles.
Noah Joad: Tom's “strange” older brother who leaves the family to live by a river.
Connie Rivers: Rose of Sharon's husband who abandons the family in California, unable to cope with the hardships.
Muley Graves: A neighbor of the Joads who refuses to leave his land, foreshadowing the difficulties the family will face.
Jim Rawley: The manager of the government camp who shows kindness to the Joads.
Quick facts
John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath in just 100 days.
The novel’s title was suggested by Steinbeck's wife Carol, inspired by lyrics from Julia Ward Howe’s “The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Steinbeck conducted extensive research by living in migrant camps to accurately portray the experiences of Dust Bowl migrants.
The character of Jim Casy was loosely based on Steinbeck's friend Ed Ricketts.
The novel's intercalary chapters that interrupt the main narrative were inspired by the structure of John Dos Passos's U.S.A. trilogy.
The Grapes of Wrath won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1940.
When it was first published in 1939, the novel stirred up controversy because of its sympathetic portrayal of migrant workers.
The Associated Farmers of California took issue with the novel’s depiction of California farmers, denouncing it as a “pack of lies” and “communist propaganda."
Steinbeck received death threats and was accused of being both a socialist and a communist.
In 1940, The Grapes of Wrath was adapted into an acclaimed film, directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda as Tom Joad.
Woody Guthrie wrote a two-part song called “Tom Joad” based on the novel's protagonist.
About the Author
John Steinbeck (1902-1968) was one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. Born in Salinas, California, Steinbeck drew inspiration from the people and landscapes of his home state throughout his career. He achieved popular success in 1935 with Tortilla Flat. Yet his literary reputation was cemented by works known as the Dust Bowl trilogy—In Dubious Battle (1936), Of Mice and Men (1937), and his epic novel about an Oklahoma migrant family, The Grapes of Wrath (1939), which won the Pulitzer Prize.
Steinbeck continued to explore themes of economic hardship, friendship, and the human connection to the land in later works like Cannery Row (1945) and East of Eden (1952). In 1962, Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his “realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception.” His final novel The Winter of Our Discontent (1961) examined moral decline in America, while his travelog Travels with Charley (1962) recounted a road trip across the country with his dog.
Steinbeck left behind a rich literary legacy. His vivid characters, powerful social commentary, and lyrical descriptions of California landscapes continue to resonate with readers. His works have become a staple of high school and college curricula as well as inspired numerous stage and screen adaptations. The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas celebrates the author's life and work, ensuring his place in the American literary canon for generations to come.
