The Grapes of Wrath Q&A
- 1
Some chapters are not a part of the chronological story of the Joads. What is their purpose?
These chapters, called intercalary chapters, develop background. They show a broader picture than the relatively narrow view of the Joad family’s vision, and explain things from landscape and weather to the business practices of the time.
- 2
What is the meaning of the turtle in Chapter 3?
The turtle represented, through foreshadowing, the trials and difficulties facing the Joad family. They have been, and will be, faced with difficulties from the land and the weather, and will fall victim to meanness. They will also experience kindness and compassion, though. Later, the turtle happens to become a part of Tom’s story, tying it into the event sequence.
- 3
Was the book written for the purposes of entertainment, or strictly as a social commentary?
Steinbeck was known for working very hard to represent the rights of laborers and and migrant workers, and to draw attention to their plight. The social commentary in “Grapes” is very pointed, with a very distinct intention of drawing attention to the difficulties faced by hundreds of thousands of these people, due to the greedy business practices of corporations. However, it is also written in an entertaining, interesting style. Steinbeck certainly knew that the best way to get the message to a very large audience was to entertain with an enjoyable book.
