During the 1930's Depression, most corporations like the Pacific Railroad, the bank, and the corporations were often viewed as money robbers that took the living of the common people and the farmers. In reality, the wealthy did have some effects from the Depression but most managed to keep their vast wealth and presented their higher status in the public. With the social difference between the poor and the wealthy, the people mostly viewed wealthy as the man with a scary grin and possibly with a moustache like that of the photo above. Though many saw the upper-class as treacherous, some "[...] hated the mathematics that drove them, and some were afraid, and some worshipped" (31) The multiple accounts on the wealthy defines the different diversity that John Steinbeck wants to present. The people who hated the "mathematics" were the people from the upper-middle class where they held decent jobs and educations back then. They understood the concepts of the power by the business and banks, so they resented the thoughts and procedures that the corporations acted upon. The people who "were afraid" were those within the farmers and the lower class. They felt the fear to fight the higher-ups and understood the limited strength they had. The people that "worshipped" were the children and the pure people who admired the lavish life-style of the wealthy. They watched as the wealthy wore magnificent cloths and held parties in the public. The people who resented the wealthy also tried to find the source of the corruption. The banks and the corporations "gets orders from the East. The orders were, 'Make the land show profit or we'll close you up.' "(38) The banks and the wealthy that gave orders to seize the land were controlled from afar by the higher-ups of the business. The higher-ups that ordered to seize the land shows their ignorance of the condition of the land when they ordered to "make the land show profit". They do not understand the condition of the Dust Bowl in the land and fails to consider the farmers that need to work on the land. The novel presents the displeasure of the farmers to the ignorant higher-ups that commands in the wealthy "East".
Photo Source:
-Hopps, Mara. John Dillinger. Digital image. Pinterest. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. http://www.pinterest.com/pin/239464905157607996/.
Book Source:
-Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Viking, 1939. Print.
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