Social Evils In Robert Steinbecks The Grapes Of Wrath

In the introduction to the Penguin edition of The Grapes of Wrath, Robert DeMott writes that the novel is one of a few select American novels that â€Å"humanize America’s downtrodden by exposing social ills† (x). This is true in The Grapes of Wrath because, when faced with the various social ills and unequal treatment that were amplified during the Great Depression, migrants react in a very human way: with intense anger. Inequality towards migrants is shown through government abuse, unfair treatment by employers, and police brutality, which ultimately provoke civil unrest. The first social ill that exposes the state of inequality is government neglect. To start, migrants in California can not receive aid until they have been residents for†¦show more content†¦Civil unrest only draws attention to these plights. The second social ill that exposes the state of inequality in the novel is the unfair treatment of migrants by employers. Thousands of migrant families journey to California attracted by handbills promising work with decent pay, for instance â€Å"‘Pea Pickers Wanted in California. Good Wages All Season. 800 Pickers Wanted’† (Steinbeck 99). However, these handbills merely advertise empty promises. In reality, greedy farm owners constantly manipulate the enormous migrant workforce for their own economic gain â€Å"‘You can print a hell of a lot of han’bills with what ya save payin’ fifteen cents an hour for fiel’ work’† (Steinbeck 270). This manipulation is based around a vicious cycle, where one family is always poorer, hungrier, and more willing to accept substandard wages than the next. Unfair treatment by employers is an example of inequality because migrants are treated less than human, evidenced by the poor living conditions in employee housing â€Å"The floor was splashed with grease. In the one room stood a rusty tin stove and nothing more,† and long hours â€Å"‘Work till dark, long as you can see’† (Steinbeck 408, 411). Ultimately, the rampant mistreatment of migrant workers will result in civil unrest, which will further damage the cohesiveness of society as a result of the deep social and economic divisions between theShow MoreRelated Censorship - A Clash of Wills and Morals Essay4147 Words   |  17 Pageshave provoked, challenged, and provided new insight. The reason a book is banned and the reason a book is lauded are inextricably linked. Controversial works are usually challenged on the basis of religious, sexual, political, and social issues. However, it is interesting to note that most works are actually censored not for the four reasons above, but for the ambiguous charge of â€Å"obscenity.† In Lee Burress’s chart listing the most common reasons for book censorship, theRead MoreHumans: The Worlds Most Social Animal Essay1993 Words   |  8 Pagesmuch, who those people are is often subject to change. The Grapes of Wrath, The Great Gatsby, and The Hunger Games, all show a society in which the social hierarchy is headed to, or is in fluxuation, and that holds true with any society. The Great Gatsby gives a clear and concise example of the separation of classes in America, which has not changed much since the 1920’s. Jay Gatsby is a prime example of the fluctuation in the social hierarchy. He’s the poor nobody who found his way to the topRead MoreUneven Distribution of Life in America2501 Words   |  10 Pagesrecent years, the issue of this uneven distribution of wealth in America has come to the forefront. President Obama even dedicated part of his last State of the Union address to this problem. Statistics revealing the distribution of wealth to each social class is easily obtainable for the general public. But, the uneven distribution of wealth is not a problem that developed overnight. The gap in wealth between the rich and the poor has been growing for decades. Uneven wealth distribution became anRead MoreThe Sonnet Form: William Shakespeare6305 Words   |  26 Pagesfrom sin to holiness. Anecdote: The brief narration of a single event or incident. Aphorism: A concise expression of insight or wisdom: â€Å"The vanity of others offends our taste only when it offends our vanity† (Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil). Autobiography: The nonfictional story of a person’s life, told by that person. St. Augustine’s Confessions is an early, canonical work in this genre (see also memoir,below). Ballad: Traditionally, a folk song telling a story or legend in simple