The last clear definite function of man—muscles aching to work, minds aching to create beyond the single need—this is man. To build a wall, to build a house, a dam, and in the wall and house and dam to put something of Manself, and to Manself take back something of the wall, the house, the dam; to take hard muscles from the lifting, to take the clear lines and form from conceiving. For man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments. This you may say of man—when theories change and crash, when schools, philosophies, when narrow dark alleys of thought, national, religious, economic, grow and disintegrate, man reaches, stumbles forward, …show more content…
painfully, mistakenly sometimes. Having stepped forward, he may slip back, but only half a step, never the full step back. This you may say and know it and know it. This you may know when the bombs plummet out of the black planes on the market place, when the prisoners are stuck like pigs, when the crushed bodies drain filthily in the dust. You may know it in this way. If the step were not being taken, if the stumbling-forward ache were not alive, the bombs would not fall, the throats would not be cut. Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live—for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died. And fear the time when the strikes stop while the great owners live—for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken. And this you can know— fear the time when Manself will not suffer and die for a concept, for this one quality is the foundation of Manself, and this one quality is man, distinctive in the universe. Overall theme: The persistency of mankind We create, and we get more from our creations than just basic needs Ambition, an innate desire to get ahead Transience Hope: eventually, if we keep fighting, we will get out of this situation Don't be complacent Connection to the book All the business owners who are worried about government supporting the oakies, the growing power of labor unions and some strikes However this is not causing change they’re the results of change The masses are hungry, the man is hungry, and people are innately going to fight back Hope: The joads persevere throughout the novel Specifically Tom Joad He's been in prison all of this time, he is not going to let this ruin Devices diction Extended analogy Intro Community Transition into how the novel utilizes interchapters to posses point Discuss about location as an interchapter thesis Thesis In this passage, Steinbeck utilizes hopeful diction, movement imagery, an extended war metaphor to depict the unknown-narrators inner musings about the rising movement for migrant workers rights in order to convey the larger theme of the perseverance of man throughout the novel. Paragraph 1: Diction Steinbeck uses preacher like and lofty diction to create an almost preacher like effect Repetition of the words like “Man” and “ to build” Everything they are saying to build is a strong, concrete, and hard to tear down structure Man, and his inventions, are hard to take down Creates a sense of necessity about what he is saying Overall, creates the effect that mankind is innately hardworking and can withstand hard times Connection to the rest of the novel The joads journey, no matter what happens, the joads will find some way to persevere Tom’s transient idea that he can sit through anything Travelling gets easier for them, even though the conditions are rigorous The “reds” in Akron (Chap 24) story Paragraph 2: Imagery Movement imagery Stumbles forward Grows and disintegrated Taking steps forward and half steps back Creates an analogy for constant movement and growth While we are set back, it is never more than a half step Connection to the theme of the novel Paragraph 3: Extended metaphor War metaphor Even though war is a negative thing, and causes a lot of destruction, it is all for progress No suffering can be without progress So in regards to the Okies and their rights, they are suffering now, but not without cause Tom and Casey’s involvement in the labor movement Casey eventually dying Conclusion Maegan Wood English 140 Dr. Mallios 11/09/17 Of inner chapters and endurance. In his 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck tells the tale of the hardships of the Joad family, who are migrating from depression and dust bowl-era Oklahoma to California in search of work and survival.
While the plight of the Joad family serves as a representation of the resilience of humanity, Steinbeck specifically interjects most of the philosophical musings found in the novel through various inner chapters, where an unknown narrator poses thought provoking, yet more general musings about the current issues facing American farmers like the Joad family. Specifically, in Chapter 14, Steinbeck utilizes repetitive diction, movement imagery, an extended war metaphor to depict the unknown-narrators inner musings about the rising movement for migrant workers rights in order to convey the larger theme of the perseverance of man throughout the …show more content…
novel. Through the usage of repetitive diction, Steinbeck creates an overwhelmingly strong identity for both the migrant workers movement as well as for mankind.
Specifically, the narrator delves into a tangent where he discusses the importance of human creation: “To build a wall, to build a house, a dam, and in the wall and house and dam to put something of Manself, and to Manself take back something of the wall…”(pagenuber). The usage of the infinitive verbs to build and to put in these actions creates an interesting comparison between manself and these strong structures. Obviously, manself is what literally builds these structures, but when placing the act of putting something of myself in the same context, Steinbeck renders that statement that man shares the same strength as the structures they build as a universal truth. Furthermore, when placed in the context of the novel, the migrant-worker rights movement is the structure that Steinbeck is wholeheartedly supporting. Mankind is persevering through this awful situation, and the more they fortify this movement, the more of themselves they are putting in. This is the movement that Tom Joad dedicates his life to, and the movement that Jim Casy gives his life for; they are building this movement, and getting a sense of fulfilment in return . This wholly establishes Steinbeck's overall theme of perseverance, as with something to do, and something to fight for, mankind keeps enduring
on. Similarly, Steinbeck's usage of verbs of movement encapsulate his overall theme of perseverance. Steinbeck utilizes verbs describing movement, like, change, crash, stumbles, and steps. Though not all of these words describe graceful movement, they all have a common theme of forward movement and ascension. Even the words describing negative movement have a caveat, for instance taking only a half step back instead of a whole step back. This usage of movement verbs depicts the ongoing fight with the labor workers as well as the ongoing perseverance of man; through hardship and turmoil, both mankind and this movement keep pushing through, and often times ungracefully, best shown by the scene at the end of the novel where Rose of Sharon feeds a dying man her breastmilk. However ungraceful and unorthodox that may be, mankind is finding a way to endure. Steinbeck's usage of movement words in this passage realistically characterizes the ebb and flow of progress and shortfall in the migrant worker labor movement, and exemplifies the overall theme of the perseverance of mankind. Finally, Steinbeck's usage of extended war-metaphor encompasses the spirit behind both the labor movement and perseverance. The narrator delves into a depiction of bombings, and general death and violence. However, towards the end of the nearly five line metaphor, Steinbeck begins to dwell on a positive thought for all of this violence and fighting, “Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live—for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died”. Even though all of this chaos and confusion is objectively damaging to society, what would be more damaging to society would be not not fight at all. Furthermore, he applies the same sentiment to labor strikes, and writes about the importance of every action, whether that action is successful or not. Clearly, this is applicable to the labor movement, as all action, both positive and negative, is symbolic of a continuing fight. When Jim Casy was killed, however detrimental to the movement that might seem, the strike was symbolic of an ongoing fight for the labor unions. Ultimately, Steinbeck is trying to convey his larger message of perseverance through this, as even though war and violence and the death of the leader of a movement may seem awful in itself, not enduring the pain and suffering would be more damaging to a cause. Overall, the musings in the inner chapters, and the utilization of repetitive diction, movement imagery, and extended war metaphor, create a strong depiction of the plight of the migrant workers as well as an exemplification of the major theme of perseverance of mankind. Only through his usage of inner chapters is Steinbeck able to create a synthesis of his ideas that not only depict the plot based dilemmas of his characters, but thoroughly address the more philosophical arguments as well.
When times get tough, many people turn away from everyone and everything. It must be part of human nature to adopt an independent attitude when faced with troubles. It is understandable because most people do not want to trouble their loved ones when they are going through problems, so it is easier to turn away than stick together. Maybe their family is going through a rough patch and they reason they would be better off on their own. This path of independence and solitude may not always be the best option for them or their family, though. Often times it is more beneficial for everyone to work through the problem together. It is not always the easiest or most desirable option, but most times it is the most efficient and it will get results in the long run. In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck makes this point very clear through several characters. Many characters throughout
Steinbeck meets his standard by celebrating the migrant workers’ drive and sense of community in the face of the Great Depression. The Joad family and many others, are dedicated to conquering all odds: “[t]hus they changed their social life–changed as in the whole universe only man can change” (Steinbeck 196). There are no other options available for these tenant families than to take the trek to California in hopes of finding work. The fears they once had about droughts and floods now lingered with
People just don’t seem to give up, they continue fighting till the very end rather than lay down and succumb to the challenge faced. In “The Grapes of Wrath”, John Steinbeck uses symbolism and religious allusions as unifying devices to illustrate the indomitable nature of the human spirit.
Most of Steinbeck’s work conveys a deeper meaning or message to the readers, and The Grapes of Wrath presents no exception, as redemption’s prevalence influences the growth of each character. Although the book ends with a tragic flood after the family has faced the loss of Rose of Sharon’s newborn baby, the novel still ends in happiness, since characters such as Jim Casy, Uncle John, Tom Joad, and Rose of Sharon attain redemption and in doing so, become saviors for migrant families. Steinbeck manifests the idea the migration did not necessarily implicate the Joads would find prosperity in the promised land of California, but would instead fulfill the quest for absolution, which results in their heroic
In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck illustrates the Joad’s endurance by his use of extended metaphors in intercalary chapters. Steinbeck uses intercalary chapters to provide background for the various themes in the novel. He effectively foreshadows upcoming events by telling of the general state of the local population in the intercalary chapters. He then narrows it down to how it effects the main characters of the novel, which are the Joads. Setting the tone of the novel in the reader’s mind is another function of Steinbeck's intercalary chapters.
Throughout the novel, The Grapes of Wrath there are intercalary chapters. The purpose of these chapters are to give the readers insight and background on the setting, time, place and even history of the novel. They help blend the themes, symbols, motifs of the novel, such as the saving power of family and fellowship, man’s inhumanity to man, and even the multiplying effects of selfishness. These chapters show the social and economic crisis flooding the nation at the time, and the plight of the American farmer becoming difficult. The contrast between these chapters helps readers look at not just the storyline of the Joad family, but farmers during the time and also the condition of America during the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck uses these chapters to show that the story is not only limited to the Joad family,
Steinbeck's intercalary chapters in The Grapes of Wrath have nothing to do with the Joads or other characters of the novel, but help describe the story in different terms. They are similar to poems, offering different viewpoints of the migration, and clarifying parts of the story that the reader might not understand. An excellent example of this use can be seen in chapter 21, where an examination of the attitudes of migrant Okies and the residents of California reveals the changing nature of land ownership among the changing population of California and gives greater meaning to the fierce hostility that the Joads meet in California.
Throughout the book Steinbeck uses personification through Charley to create the idea that Charley is more than just a dog but he is a friend to Steinbeck, someone to rely on throughout his journey. Charley is alluded to a French gentleman poodle. He is portrayed as extremely wise and his uses for making connections with the people they encounter on their journey across the US. My understanding from reading the book and seeing how the book is portrayed gives me the idea that Charley has dignity and pride. The book states “Charley was torn three ways—with anger at me for leaving him, with gladness at the sight of Rocinante, and with pure pride in his appearance. For when Charley is groomed and clipped and washed he is as pleased with himself
"He held the apple box against his chest. And then he leaned over and set the box in the stream and steadied it with his hand. He said fiercely, "Go down an' tell 'em. Go down in the street an' rot an' tell 'em that way....Maybe they'll know then." He guided the box gently out into the current and let it go" (493).
drop their life and move to a different state. When they arrived in California they were not
Tom Joad is an ex-convict that was only into his own self-interest and lived by a mantra of live your life day by day and not concerned with the future, to becoming a man who thinks about the future and someone with morals and an obligation to help others. Ma Joad is a typical woman of the early 1900’s whose main role was a mother only with a role of caring and nurturing. Later in the novel, she becomes an important figure for the family and is responsible for making decisions in keeping the family together and emphasizes the importance of unity. Another important transition in the book is the family starting off as a single close knit unit to depending on other families to survive. This common interest and struggle bonded the community of individual families to a single one. Steinbeck wrote this novel very well, by having great character dynamics and development that displays the characters strengths and also their
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930's live under. The novel tells of one families migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The Joad family had to abandon their home and their livelihoods. They had to uproot and set adrift because tractors were rapidly industrializing their farms. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loan. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California. How they survive the cruelty of the land owners that take advantage of them, their poverty and willingness to work.
This quote illustrates for the readers the true animosity of the people during the time, and that’s why Steinbeck is sympathy for the migrants
One of the struggles many families faced, along with the Joad's was death. "Pa asked softly," What was it". "Stroke", said Casy." A good quick stroke"(Steinbeck,188). After many roadblocks, the Joad's joined forces with another family and finally reached California.When they arrived there wasn’t as many jobs as they had hoped. People who had arrived before them had "taken" most of the jobs for picking cotton."California. This here's California an' we're right in it"(Steinbeck,276).Some were fortunate to have a job but many were left unemployed.Also, many people had to live in government provided camps in raggedy-makeshift tents because they couldn’t afford to live on there own.It was hard enough to buy food to eat off a cotton pickers salary(if you had a job).Its almost as if the industrialization of agriculture didn’t happen, most migrant families would be financially stable.The industrialization made many lose there jobs, houses and
What can be considered a classic? A classic is most likely a bestseller, such as The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The work depicts the Joad family looking for a better life in California; who encounters numerous families that have the same dream, confronts unforeseen setbacks, and in the end, realizes that their promised future is not what they had hoped for. John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath can be considered a classic because it applies rhetorical devices skillfully, causes controversy, and includes present day topics: unemployment and the American Dream, which goes awry in many cases.