The Grapes of Wrath Section 4 (Chapters 18-20)
Life on the road proves to be difficult. When the Joads and Wilsons enter Arizona, they are told by border officials to keep moving, because they are not wanted in Arizona. The family traverses all of Arizona in one day, and crosses the Colorado river into California.
Here they learn of the term, “Okie,” a derogatory slur used to describe the westward migrants. Since many are from Oklahoma, the term is applied to all westward travelers, regardless of which their actual state of origin is. It is used in a context that suggests that Okies are primitive, uneducated, and lazy, seeking little more than handouts. The family also learns from others at the riverside camp that California’s job situation is not as promised. They meet people who are heading east, returning from California, after finding that work is scarce, and that the newcomers are unwelcome.
This evening, Noah decides that he’d be best off by staying on the shores of the Colorado River. He plans to fish for his sustenance, and says he’ll figure other things out as they come. He wanders off, never to be seen again.
This evening is the first time that they are threatened by deputies. They are told that if they are here the next day, they’ll all be arrested.
Mrs. Wilson is tired, and can’t go on. The Wilsons announce that they plan to stay at this camp tonight, even if the Joads continue onward.
Since they are about to cross the desert, and since they’ve been threatened by deputies, the Joads decide to leave that night. This night crossing is due partly to the deputies’ threat of violence in the morning, but also because travelling the desert route in the relative cool of night will reduce their chances of the truck overheating.
Grandma dies during the night. Ma is aware of her passing, but does not mention this to the others when it occurs, not wanting to burden them with the news while travelling.
California’s history is offered, albeit abbreviated in regard to agricultural history. It describes the white man seizing the land from Mexico, and then cultivating the rich land. The new people are deemed “squatters,” eventually graduating to the status of “owners, ” and the new owners of this land raised generations of children there.
Next came sales and commercialization. The agricultural industry became oriented almost exclusively towards cash generation. Farms became industrialized, with profit being the sole motivator. As California’s riches were exploited, countless migrants were drawn to the seeming paradise, until the state was far over-saturated with the hungry, the needy, and those desperate for their own piece of the pie.
The surplus of workers leads to wage suppression, lack of available jobs, and desperation for hundreds of thousands. These people become slaves to the system.
The family has no choice other than to take Granma’s body to the coroner in Bakersfield. They’re ashamed because they cannot afford a proper burial, and are forced to unceremoniously leave her with the coroner.
That evening, at the camp they’ve stopped at, they meet a man named Floyd Knowles, who tells them of the troubles they are likely to face, tells them about Hoovervilles, and how the big farms try to recruit far more people than they can actually hire, in order to drive wages down. He suggests the idea of unionization, but also points out that those who try to participate in such a thing will be blacklisted. Once blacklisted, a person will not be allowed to work, and could face violent consequences as well.
Connie wanders off, after saying he didn’t know things would be this difficult. He says that he plans to get some education, at which time he’ll come find his young bride, Rose of Sharon. He disappears with little fanfare.
A recruiter for farm labor arrives that afternoon, trying to drum up workers. He is accompanied in the car by a deputy. The recruiter and the deputy confront Floyd, accusing him of trying to organize protests. The deputy tries to arrest Floyd, who runs. Tom intentionally sticks a foot out and trips the deputy as he tries to pursue Floyd. The deputy then shoots towards the escaping Floyd, but misses and hits a woman in the hand. Then Casy kicks the deputy in the neck as he tries to shoot again, rendering the deputy unconscious.
Shortly afterward, other police officers arrive to arrest the men who “assaulted” the deputy. Casy presents himself to the officers, claiming that he is the only one who did it. His reasoning is that if Tom were to be arrested, he’d be found out to be a felon illegally crossing state lines, which would result in Tom being returned to prison. Casy also reasons that he has little else to do these days, and he might as well go somewhere that will provide him with three meals per day. Casy is arrested, and Tom avoids becoming a suspect.
Uncle John finds Casy’s sacrifice to be emotionally disturbing. Since Casy and Tom had discussed the topic of sin, John is reminded of his guilt over his wife’s death. John feels the need to drown his sorrows with a drunken bender.
Meanwhile, the family has decided to leave immediately, as they’ve been warned that authorities plan to burn the camp in the morning. First, though, Tom has to find Uncle John, who has wandered off on a drunken bender. Tom finds him after a search, but in his drunken state, Uncle John is highly uncooperative. Tom is forced to punch him in the face, rendering John unconscious, in order to get him onto the family truck.
The family leaves the camp, but soon encounters armed roadblocks of vigilantes who do not want them to continue. They force them to turn back. However, the Joads take side roads, and circumvent the roadblock on the highway, continuing south to where they believe there is work to be found.
Analysis:
The family unit crumbles, as we see Granma’s death, Noah’s departure, Connie’s decision to leave the group, and the inability of the Wilsons to continue on. Still, Ma’s strength holds the remaining group together, as she appears brave and strong. Her inspiration remains critical to the survival of all.
We’re given historical background on the agricultural situation in California. We learn that things are starting to “turn” for the worse, as far as being the land of opportunity for these emigrants. After a long history of relegation, followed by greed-fueled growth of conglomerates, the chance for laborers to succeed, or even survive, has waned significantly.
We also see a biblical allusion in Jim Casy, with Steinbeck presenting not-so-subtle parallels to Jesus Christ. The initials “J.C.” are of note, but when Jim sacrifices his own freedom in order to allow Tom to be free, we see the intentional correlation.
