The Changing Unity in the Journey (Ch.16 – 19) (D) *

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, introduces the journey of the Joad’s family and the others as they head toward California for the better life in the nourished land. The Joad’s family first starts their long journey with Casy, a drinking preacher, on the truck with their luggage and supplies. Through their journey, they meet with the Wilson family as they were stuck in the desert with the broken down vehicle. The Joad welcomed the Wilson on the truck and decided to head toward California together. As they slowly bond in the truck, the truck suddenly brakes down and the group had to make a desperate decision. Tom made an idea where few men will ride to the nearest post to fix their truck while the others wait in the desert. As Tom’s idea was approved by others, the mother argued against the decision by stating “What we got [left] in the [world]? Nothin’ but us. Nothin’ but the folks.”(169). She decried the decision to split the group and illustrated the fear of isolation. She feared that the decision to split the group will dissolve the bonded group even though everybody already has “nothin’” left. Her strong passion to maintain the strength and the bond among the group illustrates the strong unity in the group. However, as the challenge to go to California proves too difficult for some, few members’ passion and unity slowly dissolves. 

The scorching weather, the lack of water, and the cramped truck steadily dissolved some group member’s resolve to start a new life in California. One who succumbed to the difficulty, Noah decides to quit the journey to the Promised Land when the group rests at one of the stop. Noah expresses his feeling that the “folks are nice to [him but] they don’t really care [him].” (208) He explains that the kindness that that the “folks” express are not the true unity. The isolation of Noah illustrates the true feelings among the supposed unity in the group. The scorching difficulties slowly dissolves the resolve that the groups held along the journey.

Picture Source:

Michael. "Grapes on a Vine." Travel Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. <http%253A%252F%252Fwww.travel-studies.com%252Ftaxonomy%252Fterm%252F23%25252024%25252025%25252057%25252026%25252027%25252028%25252029%25252030%25252031%25252058%25252032%253Fpage%253D9>.