John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines David Cassuto's view on John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," and discusses how the Dust Bowl may not have been only a natural disaster, but rather one exacerbated by economic hardships. This paper talks about the economic hardships and the unfairness of the economic situation as it is described by Steinbeck. The author shows that misuse of land to provide crops for the whole country during World War I led to a misuse of water which, in turn, led to the Dust Bowl.

From the Paper:

"However, in this novel, water creates economic divisions that are found in free societies generally. Cassuto notes that the primary difference between growers and migrants is in their relative relationships to water. "The growers--owners of the irrigation channels, centrifugal pumps, and watertight mansions, control it--while the Okies, starving and drenched, are at its mercy" (Cassuto, 1993, p. 67+).
The various types of economic conduct Steinbeck sprinkles throughout The Grapes of Wrath are predicated on the issue of having water, or not having it."

More papers on John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath":

• Analytical Essay # 1373 : "John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath"
• Analytical Essay # 25834 : "The Grapes of Wrath" and Historical Accuracy"
• Analytical Essay # 122097 : "The Grapes of Wrath" and Market Structures"
• Analytical Essay # 122529 : "The Grapes of Wrath" and John Steinbeck"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: