The Grapes of Wrath - 7

There are many things that can be learned from the book The Grapes of Wrath. Author, John Steinbeck, wrote the book about the 1930's Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Although the book is Historical Fiction, there is still much we can learn from it. The past is full of things to learn so that we may guard our future and protect it from letting the past repeat itself.

In the novel, Tom Joad teaches us a great lesson. Tom starts by always looking directly in front of him and just focuses on his next step. He always stays positive and does not worry, because he has learned that worrying does not solve any problems. When Tom was in prison, all he could think about was himself. But outside of prison, he must think of his family and other hurting families, as well. Although Tom still focuses on his next step, Tom learns to look toward the future and make decisions now that will benefit his future and the future of others. Tom learns the value of stepping back and seeing the bigger picture of things, rather than seeing from a small scale, selfish view point.

Another thing that can be inspired within us from this book is unity. After reading this book it is so easy to see that we cannot live alone. We need other people, it is a part of life. There is a yearning within all of us for fellowship with others. There was just something about reading about the Joad family all working together for each other that made me want to help out too. Working together is such a great thing and it really makes a huge difference in peoples lives. If you work together in a positive way, it can make you so much happier.

Something else that can be inspired in someone after reading The Grapes of Wrath is hardwork. In the book, the Joad family is extremely hard-working, and the reader gets to see their hard work pay off. Many times in the book the Joad family works extremely hard and gets nothing in return but fifteen cents an hour. But even in circumstances like that, the reader still sees their work pay off in the satisfaction that the family gets from working hard and the closeness that the family shares after working hard together for each other.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.