Grapes Of Wrath Analysis Essay

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This is a brief literary analysis of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. The Grapes of Wrath is a classic American novel written by Steinbeck in 1939. It narrates the life of the Joad family as they travel from Oklahoma to find a new home in California after they are moved off of their farmland. The Grapes of Wrath also provides historical narrative on America during the time of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Steinbeck's descriptive language paints a picturesque, however appalling, image of the land, its people, and the living conditions of families who were forced out of their homes. This paper will analyze the roles of men and women in the novel and how they may or may not have conformed to the roles traditionally expected of both genders at the time. In …show more content…

For example, the family was very poor, so no matter what gender, every family member would have had to do whatever was necessary to keep the family alive. At one point, even Rose of Sharon had to go out and work while she was still pregnant, just so the family would be able to make a few extra cents. The aspect of poverty combined with the fact that they were moving from place to place meant that they would not have had the time or energy to deal with societal expectations. Still, since pressure to conform was very heavy at the time, this created a stressful environment for the family, especially the women, who would have been conditioned to be more worried about fitting in. The Grapes of Wrath provides an interesting peek into the life of American families during this rough time in history. Gender roles and conformity are just a couple of the many important topics discussed in this novel. While it discusses some sensitive, touching topics, The Grapes of Wrath details a major part of American history. It is extremely eye-opening, informative, and overall a good

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