Refugees In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Diplomat Kofi Annan once said, “I urge you to celebrate the extraordinary courage and contributions of refugees past and present”. This famous quote, is true to its words. Throughout history, refugees of old and young have gone through tough times which led them to flee. That cause of them to flee, whether it was major or not is just another obstacle into greatness they pursued somewhere else. The book that has inspired the hearts of millions of readers about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, two of America’s greatest heartache. John Steinbeck’s, The Grapes of Wrath this captivating, realistic narrative explains the one of biggest migrations of men and women back in the 1930s during the Dust Bowl. The story is told of the Joads, a farm family in Oklahoma they are forced off their land to travel west all the way to California. They experienced many things along their travel mercy, compassion, a helping hand, and even a little death. From the repeating obstacles they have to face along their journey to California, the constant reminder of the realities of the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck created a masterpiece that shows the determination of one family, to show the ethical perspective of tragic ways of human life. Every character within The Grapes of Wrath,has experience themselves alone the hardship of the Dust Bowl. Steinbeck describes the characters as refugees the characters dialogue, setting, and plot for other minor characters that serves throughout TGOW explains his way of reasons for describing that way. Steinbeck, has showed throughout The Grapes of Wrath that the characters he has created are refugees. Whether they are either forced out of their home, or they just wanted a new change for their lives. Each character has their own individual story that they tell in The Grapes of Wrath. In the book, the character 's dialogue shows how they are portrayed as refugees. A prime example: “‘I wonder what they’ll do in California?’ said Mae. ‘Who?’ ‘Them folks that was just in.’ ‘Christ knows,’ said Al. ‘S’pose they’ll get work?’” (Steinbeck, 162). From this quote, the minor character waitress Mae and cook Al were discussing about a man and a couple boys stopping by the diner asking for bread. Usually the bread would be more than what they had which was a dime, but the cook believe that the waitress should show some compassion. Since, they were traveling to California which was very far away from the diner. Al and Mae, suspect that the trio how a long way to go and they also sell candy that was for a nickel for free. They understood, that the trio was force or most likely had a reason to not be able to have the amount ask for the products they sold them. And, that they are headed to California, since it was very known that people have been making a lot of money there. This is an example of how Steinbeck describe his characters as refugees. Another example of …show more content…
The Grapes of Wrath is a perfect example of families that are forced to live under struggling circumstances. Such as survival, this realistic story, has inspired many of readers of the book. Thus, opening up their eyes to what they never expected, changing their views of how they see things. Now knowing that all those people back in the 1930s, who were sacrificing everything just to be able to feed one another. Shows how much compassion people had for one another back then. This shows us as readers, making us look around in the world and see how we treat one another. Opens up our eyes of the people we have judge in the past, for not having certain things like ourselves. It also shows that we need to take action, and not be so bitter and cruel to everyone in the world. But, to show tenderness and love, and to accept people for who they are. Not by what they may or may not have. I know The Grapes of Wrath has open my eyes, making me see clearer of how these people in the Dust Bowl had sacrificed everything. For us, to have what we have now. And, for that we all should be grateful, for those refugees who fought for themselves back in the