The Grapes of Wrath - Essay Example

Instructions Grapes of Wrath John Fords film about the account of a dust bowl with its miseries of the gloomy survivors who seeks refuge in a very unwelcoming California. The movie is an actual thriller which is starkly practical. It is full of fireworks in both social and political dimensions. In the film one is able to clearly depict the effects of drought as a national disaster with respect to Joad’s family. This family vacates their quarter section and set foot on a voyage to find a ‘better home.’ In an actual case, this movie is an actual revelation of the state of matters that requires serious humanitarian consideration.
The film and the book reveal the plight of individuals who are earnestly working to ease suffering alongside other circumstances that are purely not of their making. With no suggestions being offered either in the book or film, Ma Joad announces that the solution to unemployment will be the duty of the people. To this note, the movie ends with a lot of optimism that someday somewhere, there will be a reprieve. (Finn, 2)
The film portrays two main themes. In the entire movie, maturity is clearly shown; this is the concept that life’s process requires a rebirth of the mind. Amidst the difficulties that people encounter, one is not to give up, you need to renew your strength and carry on with the struggle because sometimes, a good day comes and things become different and better. Peoples past experiences have revealed that whenever puts on a new face in the midst of trouble, your efforts never fade until finally showers of hope come along. The theme of maturity is revealed in many experiences that the family until, at its end, the film provides an optimism that things will get better.
Secondly, the theme of mistreatment comes out clearly in the theme; residents are made to encounter hardships in the hands of the mighty people. Views in the ‘Okie’ Californian camps expose conditions where people are greatly deprived of life’s necessities. The state troops and the local police push about the people and the visitors that are unwelcomed in a foreign land. The whole movie brings to us a story that has merciless treatments. It is only in one spot where the visitors find solace; the governments agricultural camp in the northern California.
This is a highly captivating narrative, very natural and pure. It’s a classical novel, about a poor family which is made to travel to look for a greener pastures a place of comfort, where they can live in peace and afford a decent life. The family sets to California where they openly meet and experience the hardships of huge depressions.
In Steinbeck’s tale, there’s a family that encounters hardships as they look for comfort. Mr. Tom Joad is forced to move with his family from Oklahoma to California in the hope that it is their ‘land of promise’.It dawns on them that life is even more severe in this part of the world. The concept of work is a dream since its unavailable, affording a meal if therefore pretty difficult.
The extended family comprising of eight members pack their belongings in an old truck and drive away, headed to California, along the way, grandpa succumbs to death and is buried beside the road. Unfortunately, grandma cannot survive and she too dies before reaching California.
Soon they arrive at a children’s relief camp. Things do not look better at this place. A sheriff and another man arrive with promises of work for people. However, they don’t disclose the expected payment. Sensing foul play, a local resident at the camp tries to warn the others. This annoys the sheriff who eventually shoots at him, killing a bystander. Unable to bear, Joad avenges by knocking down the Sheriff and fleeing.
Things get tough and the family is forced to continue on and look for a better life elsewhere. They leave and later arrive in another farm which is need of workers. By now, Joad is very cautious. This farm is tightly secured, it is fenced with barbed wires and armed guards are on full surveillance. The family decides to give it a try, their duty is to pick peaches with a full box earning them five cents. This is still too low to provide sufficient meal for the family.
One night after dinner, tom just decides to walk outside. Suddenly, he comes across Cassy again, this time he is leading a group of striking works against another farm. While still looking, a group of thugs emerge from the farm and terminates Cassy’s life. Seeing his friend dead, Tom engages them and kills one of them. Tom manages to escape although with a gash.
The family is rejected again, this means they cannot continues living in this place again, the load their lorry, hiding Tom in one of the mattresses. They head towards the north; here they find solace in a government’s army. The conditions are far much different and better from the former places they have been living. There are good health facilities, sanitation, friendly people among other things. Moreover the camp is under the control and management of its local inhabitants.
With good organizations, the inhabitants stop a fight whose consequences would have left the camp in the hands of a local Sheriff. Tom is now a different, he promises to fight and shun any kind of injustice wherever he will hear of it. He is fed up with people manipulating and gaining undue advantage at the expense of the vulnerable (Waleson 1).With rumors of a nice job further northwards, the family is on the move again. This time round they are hopeful about a better future ahead.
‘The Grapes of Wrath’ reveal a lot from the Americans past. Little concern was shown on humanity. It was a society where the mighty could easily trample upon the poor in all manner of sort. This is a society where the strong manipulated the weak. At the same the society was hardworking with their main activity being agriculture.
Works cited
Flinn, John, Review, the Grapes of Wrath. Variety Media, LLC. 2014. Web. 6 Feb. 2014.
Waleson, Heidi. "PURSUITS; Leisure & Arts: Lost in Translation from Page to Stage; the Grapes of Wrath Disappoints as a New Opera." Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition ed.Feb 24 2007.ProQuest.Web. 6 Feb. 2014. Read More