The Grapes of Wrath- Reading Log #3
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Transcript of The Grapes of Wrath- Reading Log #3
8/7/2019 The Grapes of Wrath- Reading Log #3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-grapes-of-wrath-reading-log-3 1/2
Eamon Barkhordarian1/6/11
IchikawaEnglish Honors
Reading Log #3- Grapes of WrathAnalytic
“ ‘We got the best dances in the country every Saturday night.
Well, for Christ’s sake! Why ain’t they more places like this?’The Watchman looked sullen. ‘You’ll have to find that out yourself. Go get some sleep.’‘good night,’ said Tom. ‘Ma’s gonna like this place. She ain’t been treated decent for along time.’ (288)”
In the last reading log, I explained how the Joad’s family journey to the West was
to be full of hardship and suffering. I predicted there was to be much more adversity
along the way in the following chapters, and I was later proven correct. Already four
members of the family have departed as Connie left, and Grandma, Grandpa, and the dog
have died. Yet starting in chapter 22, the Joad family has their first glimpse of hope.
After leaving a camp the police were to set on fire, the Joads drive into the Weedpatch
camp. Shortly after, Tom is informed of the beauties and opportunity this camp has to
provide. In a sense, the Weedpatch camp has managed to turn the family’s luck around
for the first time.
The first morning after entering the camp, Tom is invited to have breakfast with
the neighbors. The strangers openly share their experience in the camp and how well they
have been treated here. The reader is hinted at the opportunities that will similarly be in
store for the Joad family. Later, Tom successfully finds a job, although not steady, with
good pay. In addition, in response to the recent respect Ma has received she says “Why, I
feel like people again.”
The Weedpatch camp can be seen as the farmer’s will to survive. Lacking corrupt
police investigations and heavy government involvement, the camp is solely supported by
the working migrants. The reader is shown that the farmer’s sense of civilization is
surprisingly strong, contrary to the inferior depiction the major business corporations put
8/7/2019 The Grapes of Wrath- Reading Log #3
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-grapes-of-wrath-reading-log-3 2/2
Eamon Barkhordarian1/6/11
IchikawaEnglish Honors
it to be. For the first time in the novel, we manage to come across an organized group of
farmers on the same path. Unlike the overrun Hooverville, Weedpatch camp
demonstrates the strength and potential of struggling farmers when in great number.
Without the oppressive forces of police or the break-ups of workers unions, farmers have
shown to have great potential in redeeming themselves and reaching their goals. Maybe
in the end, my original hypothesis of hardship will be proven wrong!