Unjust Treatment of Migrants in Steinback’s The Grapes of Wrath
For many years, individuals have immigrated to the United States, the land of opportunity, in search for a better future not only for themselves, but for their children. These individuals are forced to leave their most cherished belongings behind, their homes, and their life for better opportunities. Throughout their journey, these individuals endure severe circumstances all in an effort to achieve the American Dream; they travel by foot or by car, it may take days or weeks, and in some cases her or she may not reach their destination. The American Dream is the belief that any individual can obtain his or her own version of success in a society in which social mobility is possible for everyone. Individuals achieve the American Dream through sacrifice, hard-work, and risk-taking, rather than by chance all in an effort to survive. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck introduces issues that give an empathetic response to human suffering throughout America. John Steinbeck uses The Grapes of Wrath to portray how society has been conditioned to ignore the needs of others and dehumanize individuals who are seeking an opportunity to strive and survive in a new environment.
John Steinbeck describes the circumstances in which many poor, migrant workers are victimized and taken advantage of for their current living situations. Steinbeck narrates the migration of an Ohklahoma family, the Joads, to California because of the Dust Bowl and also illustrates the hardships that they endure. The great westward exodus creates a huge demand for second-hand vehicles and the crooked salesmen will exploit their desperation and sell the departing families any broken-down vehicle they can afford. While the salesmen wait for the farmers to arrive, Steinbeck describes them as predatory, “Owners with rolled-up sleeves. Salesmen, neat, deadly, a small intent eyes watching for weaknesses” (64). The salesmen take advantage of the poor migrant farmers having little to no knowledge on cars which as a result, they willingly pay for the extremely high prices for their vehicles. The salesmen fill engines with saw dust to hide the noisy transmission and replace good batteries with cracked ones; while traveling on Highway 66, farmers must stop to purchase car parts, where the new salesmen try to cheat them as well. Americans were selfish and full of greed, and they wanted to prosper as a result of others’ misfortunes; there is no compassion in the car sales, but an ongoing cycle of exploitation.
In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck focuses on class discrimination and the economic situiation of the migrant farmers as compared to the landowners. Throughout various chapters, Steinbeck explains the fear that the California landowners feel over the flood of migrant workers. Tension also increases amongst the merchant class because they cannot gain any capital from them which causes for derogatory racial undertones. While in the camps, the deputies state, “Give ‘em somepin to think about. Got to keep ‘em in line or Christ only knows what they’ll do! Why, Jesus, they’re as dangerous as n…..s in the South! If they ever get together there ain’t nothin’ that’ll stop ‘em” (236). California quickly becomes overpopulated with migrant workers, jobs and food became scarce, and they faced prejudice and hostility from the Californians. They then begin to use the derogatory term “Okie” to describe those who might challenge the rich farmers and their agricultural interests. Both police and powerful landowners take advantage of these workers by offering work with little pay and no job security. Once again, Steinbeck reinforces the idea that Americans dehumanize those who are vulnerable and seek profit from their misfortunes; migrants are cheated by wealthy landowners whose only goal is to get richer.
Migrants from all over America are exploited and treated unjustly for the sole purpose of dehumanizing them. When the Joads arrive at the Weedpatch camp, Steinbeck illustrates the effectiveness of unity in the way the camp works. The members of the Weedpatch camp work in a democratic system, where members elect their own representatives which will then govern the camp. After the Farmers Association attempt to cause a riot to destroy the camp, the Joads leave and end up on a peach farm where Casy is later murdered. Tom kills Casy’s murderer and is forced to flee; he ends up in the wilderness where he begins to contemplate Casy’s reasoning of unity and community. Tom later shares an excerpt of Casy’s sermon with his mother by saying, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lif’ up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up” (288). Casy’s sermon reflects on Steinbeck’s message of unity within a community throughout the novel. Steinbeck illustrates the importance of a community and people working together with other families in similar situations. Groups of workers would go on strike against the farm owners because of low wages and Casy’s concept of unity illustrates how individuals can overcome certain situations if they work together to uplift each other and reach their level of success.
Throughout the novel, Steinbeck reveals the different injustices that migrant workers face in America. Steinbeck depicts the selfishness of big landowners and how ‘Okies’ receive the most inhumane treatment from those who are most capable of assisting them: law enforcement, banks, landowners, and those with institutional power. Poor migrant workers and their families endure constant hunger and those in power would rather let leftover food rot than to give it to them. Stienbeck describes this injustice by saying: Carloads of oranges dumped on the ground. The people came for miles to take the fruit, but this could not be. How would they buy oranges at twenty cents a dozen if they could drive out and pick them up? And men with hoses squirt kerosene on the oranges, and they are angry at the people who have come to take the fruit. A million people hungry, needing the fruit-and kerosene sprayed over the golden mountains. And the smell of rot fills the country. (348) Steinbeck describes how even if these people are starving they cannot have the leftovers; if they want something they must work for it. Throughout the remainder of the chapter, Steinbeck reinforces the idea that even if one does all the right things, it does not guarantee that he or she will make it; in an oppressive society, big and powerful institutions will continue to be dehumanize those in need.
John Steinbeck’s novel depicts the inhumane and unjust treatment towards migrants in America and exposes their hardships and the exploitation they continuously face. These workers would be cheated and often paid low wages from the farm owners when all they wanted to do was support themselves and their families. They would constantly be met with greed and selfishness because money was the center of attention for American lifestyle. Those who held power wanted to prosper as a result of others’ misfortunes; they were rich and wanted to keep it that way. Steinbeck uses The Grapes of Wrath to place emphasis on how America would rather let the poor suffer rather than give them a helping hand.
