Chapter 16-19 (Assignment-D) We are, we are Family.

The family in the beginning of the book was quite separated. Tom was just got out of prison. He happens to reunite with Jim Casey, an former priest at his old church.  Reuniting with Casey allows him to reunite with his family. The family was a bit scattered at first. The readers meet the kids later on when we meet Rose of Sharon and Connie . The characters travel together, and they begin to meet other people and the family builds. However, at this point in the novel we see the characters begin to split up. Connie leaves to the river, Grandma and Grandpa die, and the family is beginning to be separated.

It is also important to note that Ma is very protective over the family dynamics. When people ask to leave, Ma throws a tantrum, and often ruling against Pa. To Ma, family symbolizes the only hope they have left. However, Ma isn't the only family member concerned with the deranged dynamic of her household.

Rose of Sharon is also concerned with her future family. The quote I choose is when Rose of Sharon asks where Connie is. Pa replies saying that he was seen by the river. This shows that the family is drifting apart. I think this shows that macro features of the text to show how society began to divide when times get worse. This also relates to the them of the human help, and how they don't help others.
"In the vening a strange thing happened: the twenty families became on family..."
This quote shows the family relationship up to this point (Chp 20) After this, the family begins to split apart, as we find multiple characters face death.

Transcendental Philosophies (Chapters 11-15 Assignment-H)

Steinback explores one reoccurring theme in the very existence of every being: Transcendentalism. Steinback explores one main idea of transcendentalism using Biblical allusions through out the novel. He reveals to us the portrayal of Jim Casey as Jesus Christ to show his support of transcendentalstism: We as children learn that we should always help others, but yet, we should always rely on ourselves to get things done. Joad and the Family are given the opportunities to help others, yet, they think very carefully before doing them. Everyone has the opportunity, but they all think of the same conditions that prevent them from accomplishing it. We lack the ability to see that others need our help, and yet, we believe that it is moral. Steinback's argument is that we all need to choose the right moment to help each other, but not on our time, but the people we need help with.

Oh the hunger.. (Chapter 16-19) (C)

This poem is about hunger. It is about how this one theme, leads to all the other themes: hunger. This poem is written in the point of Tom Joad.

Hunger

The emptiness I feel through each movement,

I know its you,

The reason for my greed and disparity,

I know its you,

The flaws within me,

I blame you,

The fear I fear,

Its clearly you.

The need I need,

You tell me.

You control me, and my every ability,

You know my conscience, and yet you control it.

I need you, yet do everything in  my best ability to get rid of you.

Leave, I say

For you are the reason for immoral being

You are something you don't let me control it

"Getcha' Kicks on Route 66" (Chapters 11-15) (b)

Reference of Title(Song Cover by John Mayer)   (Original Version of Song by Bobby Troup)

The Highway 66 is a renowned way that has been around for almost a century. During the 1920s, thousands of families attempted to escape the harsh, depressing conditions that was brought by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. This route became popular in leaving the sad east to go to the heavenly idea of a California.
The use of cars brought businesses to open along the highway. This included things such as motels, restaurants, and gas stations. People found relief by just traveling the route for they found opportunities of business.People sought this highway as a journey to the land of opportunity, especially during the 1930s. Many people ,however, found danger traveling this road. It brought deaths, accidents, and lack of money and food. People found opportunities to sell their already limited things to sell in order to be able to make it to California. People traveled the road thinking in the hope that California would bring prosperity to them, and take them out of the harsh times they were in, especially in 1930s. After the Great Depression, the migration to California did not stop, increasing the western population. Technical Information:The highway stretches from Chicago to Los Angeles. It is about 2,000 miles long. It stretches over eight states (primarily southern states) across the United States.

Source of Picture

Source of Picture?
Source of Picture?
Source of Information?

Tom's New Clothes! (Chp 1-10 (H))

Looking at page 6, there is a description of Tom's new clothes:

"The man's clothes were new-all of them, cheap and new. his gray cap was so new that the visor was still stiff and the button still on, not shapeless and bulged as it would be when it had served for a while all the various purposes of a cap, carrying sack towel, handkerchief. His suit was if cheap gray hard-cloth and so new that there were creases in the trousers. (6)

There is a repetition of "new". The emphasizes exists to highlight that value of such clothing to this particular man. At this point, we do not the identity of this man. Yet, this repetition shows that there is a lack of such clothing or maybe more in particular. The fact that "cheap" is also emphasized shows that the man is happy that the clothes are cheap. This indicates that the man might have a lack of resources. It might also indicate a tragedy that might have taken such value away for him, which now is making him happy because he has it back.

Biblical (Chapter 1-10 I)

From meeting Jim Casy, we already can tell that he is a reflection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the son of God. He spoke for God in the way that he encouraged the people to follow God and avoid sins. This is similar to Jim Casy. When Joad meets him, they have a conversation about sins, and how, in technical language, are expected by humans. However, Casy also implies that sins may be good for human society. He also discusses that there is a possibility that there is no "Holy spirit". Perhaps, there is "Human spirit". As you can see, this is the complete opposite of what Jesus Christ accomplished in his lifetime. This serves Steinback's purpose of supporting the idea of transcendentalism, and how we should rely on each other, rather than relying on a "God.

Vehicle Inudusty (Ch 1-10 D)

People sold vehicles multiple times during the Great Depression. ( Picture Source ) From my pervious post, I stated :
So, when the stock market crashed, many people were demanding the money to be paid immediately, but people didn't have the money. This lead to many foreclosures, which made conditions more difficult for the average American. This also caused people to need and want money fast. They would see a 200$ car for only 20$. It was a buyer's market.They did not consider how much wealth and such would be used so they just sold it. It was difficult for many people to let go of their cars, but sadly, they were forced to. (link)

People were living in their cars, and they couldn't afford to because cars were expensive. When the great depression hit, people just wanted to get rid of the car for any amount of money. Hence, the values of car dropped. The cars were not in sellable conditions. Many cars were old, and had no value. Many people traveling west had trouble with cars, as they broke down. This is seen in the Grapes of Wrath as the Joad family cars break down.