The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, follows the Joad family, Oklahoma tenant farmers displaced during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Forced off their land, they journey along Route 66 to California, lured by false promises of prosperity. There, they confront exploitation, hunger, and prejudice, as migrant workers are pitted against one another by powerful agricultural interests. Through Tom Joad's awakening to social injustice and Ma Joad's enduring strength, Steinbeck portrays human dignity amid despair. A landmark of American literature, the novel is both a searing indictment of economic oppression and a moving testament to solidarity, compassion, and resilience.
