As the Joad family progressed in their journey in The Grapes
of Wrath, the tone of the story became more and more upsetting and sad for the
reader. Steinbeck portrayed the Great Depression very well through the Joad
family and he used many situations that occurred during that time period. The
emphasis on all of the bad occurrences during their journey was a little
dramatic and made the tone of the book not only sad but also sort of
depressing.
Starting off to set the tone of the book, the Joad family is
completely out of their home and have no where to live really. I know the story
is about the Great Depression, but illustrating an image of the place they
lived and that they’re home was foreclosed really gets the reader to understand
what is going on. As the story progresses the reader learns that the Joad
family is traveling to California to try and make a new beginning. Even just
the thought of leaving your home for your entire life is upsetting especially
for a family that does not know what to expect at all in California.
When the journey to California begins all seems well, but
then death begins to set in among the family. The story starts to become about
the death and separation of the family rather than just making it to California
safely to pursue their dreams. At the beginning of the treck the dog dies first
and then follows along both Grandpa and Grandma. Rose of Sharon’s husband
leaves the family completely and leaves his wife who is pregnant with his
child. The journey to California starts off as good intentions and following
their dreams to try and make a better life, but it turns into a disaster that
brings the entire family down.
Even when the Joad family gets to California, it isn’t all
that they thought it to be. Finding a job is very difficult and the
stereotypical remarks about the “Okies” makes it even more difficult. When
things seem to start going the right way, it just becomes even more of a set
back. When Casy gets taken away by the police, that is once again another set
back in the Joad family expedition. The list of deaths increases when not only
Casy dies, but also Rose of Sharon’s little baby.
Every time there is a death, a set back, or a fall out among
the family it makes the reader have no hope for the Joad’s at all. The
depressing journey never ends among the family. Its understandable that its
near to impossible to have a happy ending while trying to tough out the Great
Depression, but it seems as if Steinbeck clearly wanted to establish a tone
that created sympathy and sadness for the Joad family.
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