The Grapes of Wrath: Text and Criticism

by John Steinbeck, Peter Lisca (Editor), Kevin Hearle (Editor)

Viking Critical Library, Revised Edition: When The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939, America, still recovering from the Great Depression, came face to face with itself in a startling, lyrical way. John Steinbeck gathered the country's recent shames and devastations--the Hoovervilles, the desperate, dirty children, the dissolution of kin, the oppressive labor conditions--in the Joad family. Then he set them down on a westward-running road, local dialect and all, for the world to acknowledge. For this marvel of observation and perception, he won the Pulitzer in 1940.

The prize must have come, at least in part, because alongside the poverty and dispossession, Steinbeck chronicled the Joads' refusal, even inability, to let go of their faltering but unmistakable hold on human dignity. Witnessing their degeneration from Oklahoma farmers to a diminished band of migrant workers is nothing short of crushing. The Joads lose family members to death and cowardice as they go, and are challenged by everything from weather to the authorities to the California locals themselves. As Tom Joad puts it: "They're a-workin' away at our spirits. They're a tryin' to make us cringe an' crawl like a whipped bitch. They tryin' to break us. Why, Jesus Christ, Ma, they comes a time when the on'y way a fella can keep his decency is by takin' a sock at a cop. They're workin' on our decency."

The point, though, is that decency remains intact, if somewhat battle-scarred, and this, as much as the depression and the plight of the "Okies," is a part of American history. When the California of their dreams proves to be less than edenic, Ma tells Tom: "You got to have patience. Why, Tom--us people will go on livin' when all them people is gone. Why, Tom, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people--we go on." It's almost as if she's talking about the very novel she inhabits, for Steinbeck's characters, more than most literary creations, do go on. They continue, now as much as ever, to illuminate and humanize an era for generations of readers who, thankfully, have no experiential point of reference for understanding the depression. The book's final, haunting image of Rose of Sharon--Rosasharn, as they call her--the eldest Joad daughter, forcing the milk intended for her stillborn baby onto a starving stranger, is a lesson on the grandest scale. "'You got to,'" she says, simply. And so do we all. --Melanie Rehak

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Literature, Historical Fiction

736 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 1997

About the author

John Ernst Steinbeck was an American writer. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception". He has been called "a giant of American letters."
During his writing career, he authored 33 books, with one book coauthored alongside Edward F. Ricketts, including 16 novels, six non-fiction books, and two collections of short stories. He is widely known for the comic novels Tortilla Flat (1935) and Cannery Row (1945), the multi-generation epic East of Eden (1952), and the novellas The Red Pony (1933) and Of Mice and Men (1937). The Pulitzer Prize–winning The Grapes of Wrath (1939) is considered Steinbeck's masterpiece and part of the American literary canon. By the 75th anniversary of its publishing date, it had sold 14 million copies.
Most of Steinbeck's work is set in central California, particularly in the Salinas Valley and the California Coast Ranges region. His works frequently explored the themes of fate and injustice, especially as applied to downtrodden or everyman protagonists.

Reviews

[✨Alix✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's an important book to read, it really helps you learn to sympathize better with others. However, it was long and drawn out. It was important to learn of their struggles but there was a lot in there that didn't need to be.

[Longfellow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is a helluva ride.
Found out G.O.W. was banned in Kansas City by the K.C. Board of Education and in St. Louis, and the St. Louis library was ordered to burn the three copies they had already purchased. Shit be crazy sometimes.

[grllopez ~ with freedom and books · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to compose my thoughts on this one before I write a review, otherwise it will all come out wrong.

OK, here it is: The Grapes of Wrath

[Anna Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not fond of that ending (literally what was that?!), but the rest of the book was thought provoking.

[Matt E]

Audible ASIN: B004VMD7BW | Narrators: Dylan Baker

[Jarrodtrainque]

When The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939, America, still recovering from the Great Depression, came face to face with itself in a startling, lyrical way. John Steinbeck gathered the country's recent shames and devastations--the Hoovervilles, the desperate, dirty children, the dissolution of kin, the oppressive labor conditions--in the Joad family. Then he set them down on a westward-running road, local dialect and all, for the world to acknowledge. For this marvel of observation and perception, he won the Pulitzer in 1940./ The prize must have come, at least in part, because alongside the poverty and dispossession, Steinbeck chronicled the Joads' refusal, even inability, to let go of their faltering but unmistakable hold on human dignity. Witnessing their degeneration from Oklahoma farmers to a diminished band of migrant workers is nothing short of crushing. The Joads lose family members to death and cowardice as they go, and are challenged by everything from weather to the authorities to the California locals themselves. As Tom Joad puts it: "They're a-workin' away at our spirits. They're a tryin' to make us cringe an' crawl like a whipped bitch. They tryin' to break us. Why, Jesus Christ, Ma, they comes a time when the on'y way a fella can keep his decency is by takin' a sock at a cop. They're workin' on our decency."/ The point, though, is that decency remains intact, if somewhat battle-scarred, and this, as much as the depression and the plight of the "Okies," is a part of American history. When the California of their dreams proves to be less than edenic, Ma tells Tom: "You got to have patience. Why, Tom--us people will go on livin' when all them people is gone. Why, Tom, we're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people--we go on." It's almost as if she's talking about the very novel she inhabits, for Steinbeck's characters, more than most literary creations, do go on. They continue, now as much as ever, to illuminate and humanize an era for generations of readers who, thankfully, have no experiential point of reference for understanding the depression. The book's final, haunting image of Rose of Sharon--Rosasharn, as they call her--the eldest Joad daughter, forcing the milk intended for her stillborn baby onto a starving stranger, is a lesson on the grandest scale. "'You got to,'" she says, simply. And so do we all. --Melanie Rehak/

[Ginger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have absolute respect for this book because of the complex nature of the language of it. I even somewhat enjoy the depressive and somewhat overly descriptive nature of the work (because I think over-description is often necessary). However I will never get over the complete let down of the ending. I suffered reading this book, not even during a mandatory school reading, but of my own pleasure. I feel like Steinbeck got lost and had to produce an ending to suffice an editors' deadline. If truly the ending in this book was always meant to be so vague and unsatisfying...then bravo. I thought my writing instructors always taught better than that, but maybe that's why I've never written a 'classic'...and gosh...it's just soooo tragic...

[Gribdot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually don't have this particular edition. I read a really basic paperback. I don't think it even had an intro. But anyway, this is an amazing book. Very American. The beginnings of Modernism in the bizarre symbolic ending. I went into mourning after I finished. Couldn't even look at another book for a while.

[Reb · Rating 5 out of 5]

i should have expected this from steinbeck, but i had forgotten about his ability to draw, lazily, an enticing world, to draw me into it, to crowd and shade and fill that world piece by piece and to push me so far that once the sun fades and the shadows loom i'm actually gripped with rage and despair.
so yeah, it's good.
this critical edition is particularly nice.

[Alison F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly depressing. I also thought that the story developed really slowly. I know that a lot of people love this book, so there must be something to it. I, however, do not care for it.

[Maria · Rating 1 out of 5]

blaaaaa, enough of your dust bowl struggles. i'm trying to PARTY! that's the last time i read a classic, y'all!

i do have to say that i liked the last paragraph, though pop culture had spoiled me for it.

[megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in High School and I found the story to be very moving and interesting. The hardships the family go through are eye opening and help me to recognize that humans are strong and can cope with a lot.

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, I write a long, detailed review of the books I read. After reading The Grapes Of Wrath, I'm speechless. This is a great book. That's all there is to say. It's a classic for a reason. Steinbeck is one of America's best writers.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

well friends. i made it through.
the ending was weird as fuck. no me gusta.

#this was actually a really good book tho. would've given it 5 stars but the ending was weird as fuck.
everyone said it was going to be horrible. but it was good!
nice one JS

[Haley Mons · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand that this is a classic and there's probably a reason behind that, but I hated reading this and I think it drags on unnecessarily without having very interesting characters or story elements to back it up.

[Mary Elsener · Rating 5 out of 5]

historical fiction is my very favorite, this rates tops!

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book everyone should read... I wish I would have when it was required reading in high school.

[Susan Holihan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, I can do without much of the Joad narrative. But those inner chapters are much better. And Chapter 25 is simply amazing...my favorite chapter in all of American Literature.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, beautifully written book. Scathing in its attack on the rise of industrial agriculture. Unfortunately, very depressing.

[Ignas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may just be the best book I've read so far. Review pending approval.

[Dezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been slowly reading this...one, two pages at a time. I'm glad it's over. It has been difficult to read. To say I enjoyed it would be wrong. To say it has affected me deeply is right.

[Mark Stratton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished up the novel part of the book, skimmed thru parts of the criticism section. Very well worth reading.

[meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re the people—we go on.