Grapes of Wrath Essay: Naturalism in The Grapes of Wrath :: Grapes Wrath essays

Naturalism in The Grapes of Wrath          In John Steinbecks novel The Grapes of Wrath, the Joad family and the changing world in which they live is portrayed from a naturalistic occlusion of view. Steinbeck characterizes the Joads and their fellow migrants as simple, instinct-bound creatures who are on an endless search for promised land (Owens 129). The migrants and the powers which force them to make their journey--nature and society--are frequently represented by animals. The Joads, when they initially forego home, are a group of simplistic, animal-like people who barely understand or even realize their plight, but as the story progresses, they begin to lift and adapt to their new circumstances. They evolve from a small, insignificant group of creatures with no societal consciousness into a single member of a often larger family--society.      Steinbeck strongly portrays the Joads and other dis manoeuverd Okies as being ani malistic. They often verbalise about their predicament in simplistic terms that suggest that they are initially not conscious of the circumstances that force them to leave Oklahoma. Muley Graves, for instance, tells turkey cock Joad and Jim Casy that the rest of the Joads, whose house has been destroyed by a tractor, are piled in Johns house like gophers in a winter burrow (Steinbeck 47). This presents the understand of a family of animals that have clustered together, hoping to fend off a vulture with their greater numbers. They see the societal problems around them in terms of a predator as well on one occasion, Casy asks a creation at a service station, You ever seen one a them Gila monsters demand hold, mister? (Chop him in two) an his head hangs on. An while hes layin there, poison is drippin into the hole hes made (Steinbeck 132). This refers to the devastating, unbreakable grip of the socioeconomic forces at work above them (Lisca 96). A oddly important element that re presents the migrants on a naturalistic level is the polo-neck (Lisca 97). Introduced in the first interchapter, the capsize trudges along wearily but steady on a relentless search for a better place to life. In a similar way, the Joads are constantly on the move. They do not really comprehend why they have to travel, yet they intromit it (Owens 131), and are determined to reach the promising paradise of California. Neither the turtle nor its human counterparts will be stopped by any obstacle.