Capitalism In The Grapes Of Wrath

“The land of the free,” this is the dogma that many American children grow up on. Freedom in America is the basis for nearly every institution. For example, capitalism, the economic philosophy practiced in the United States finds itself rooted in the basic right to freedom. Americans are raised to believe that capitalism gives them the freedom to choose their work, and their residence. Alternatively, Americans believe that socialism limits these freedoms, and limits the peoples’ right to choose. It is then no surprise that a book that deals so intimately with the themes of capitalism would be controversial in such a country. At the time of its publishing, The Grapes of Wrath was a highly debated novel mostly for its perceived support of socialism. To this day, a debate wages on as to whether or not Steinbeck was truly a socialist. In reality, The Grapes of Wrath is no socialist manifesto; it is not so much a pro socialist work, as it is a critique of capitalism, and its ills; This is made evident by the books constant criticism of the capitalistic financial system that led to the downfall of the markets, its treatment of socialism as being simply reactionary to the issues that arise with the use of capitalism, and its critique of the modern capitalist for his apathy toward the common worker.

Throughout the novel, Steinbeck misses no opportunity to blame the capitalistic financial system for causing the Great Depression. To begin, The responsibility of the big banks in creating a system vulnerable to failure is well attested. Steinbeck could see that the capitalism had created an environment in which the banks were left to their own devises, and would often act exclusively in their interests. The failure of the banking system was...

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...he is told to lower his wages. He does everything he can to help the Joads, and even warns them that the police will be causing trouble at the coming dance. Capitalism had failed this individual, and even sympathy could not stop the wave of capitalism. Steinbeck found criticisms for the system everywhere, even in human nature.

In the end, Steinbeck’s book The Grapes of Wrath will continue to be debated for many years to come. However, the issue of whether or not it is a working critique of capitalism is settled. His practical criticisms of capitalism are many; his support for socialism in an illusion brought on by further attacks on capitalism, and he demonstrates the damage such a system does on the human spirit. Alas, it is obvious that Steinbeck’s intentions were to conceive a novel that accurately criticized capitalism without any heavy support of a socialist