Particularly meaningful/important passages in Grapes of Wrath?

Question

book please!

Answer 1

This is tough to answer - these types of questions are always personal. A passage could mean something to me but not to you.

That said, I assume this is homework so I will give you my two cents and maybe it will help.

I actually found all of Chapter 7 and incredibly important point in the book. This is the chapter about the used car lot and it seems to have nothing to do with the Joads but it captures in such a heartfelt way how the automobile changed the United States.

Steinbeck even starts the chapter with a clipped pace much in the style of a salesman trying to attract attention to his lot which is a total change from the pacing of the book to this point.

The lack of the Joad's presence really drives home the "everyman" message - Steinbeck uses the Joads as a vehicle (no pun intended) to tell the story of the Great Migration - it's not just about them - it's about everyone who thought California would be the answer to their problems and who got used and abused along the way.

Cars were a beacon of hope to these folks - not only did it save their feet and backs but it gave them some shelter. It was often times the only item of any value they owned.

When I think of the Dust Bowl Migration, I often think of the photos of strings of cars along the side of the road - men repairing tires, women trying to calm fussy children or of cars in a circle around a small campsite or being used as a tent or shelter from the wind and dust. These images stick with us but so does Steinbeck's picture of the used car salesman who, like the bankers, is one of the few to profit from this grim scenario.

Answer 2

The last words of the movie where ma say "were the people"