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Problems In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

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Problems In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath
This novel takes place during the great depression where a farmer named Jeeter Lester, his wife Ada, and two out of all of his children (Ellie May and dude) live in a beat up home on Tobacco Road. Their home had ran in Jeeters family for many generations where all who owned the place were farmers. Jeeter, however, falls to a very unfortunate lifestyle and becomes lazy and doubtful. He is incapable to grow and sell his crops for several years. When the bank stops by one day to collect rent, Jeeter is unable to pay. They tell him he has a week to give the bank the money owed or they must leave the property. Shortly after, Lov Bensey walks past the Lesters house carrying a bag of turnips. He decides to stop and talk to Jeeter for some advice on …show more content…
The Lesters, not even able to afford food makes you think twice about how grateful everyone should be in their life for all they have. When Lov stops by the Lesters home carrying a sack of turnips, the daughter feels tortured, “She could sometimes stand the pain of it in her stomach when she knew there was nothing to eat, but when Lov stood in full view taking turnips out of the sack, she could not bear the sight of seeing food no one would let her have.” And so she manipulates Lov for the turnips by seducing him ( Caldwell 18). After Jeeter goes through the city in desperation for money or help and leaves with nothing returns home to Ada “Though it sometimes looks like a rich man will never help the poor; whereas the poor people will give away everything they has to help somebody who ain’t got nothing. That’s how it looks to me. Don’t seem like it ought to be that way, but I reckon the rich ain’t got no time to fool with us poor folks.” He says in doubt of any hope (Caldwell 36). They looked up to god a lot in a story as their only hope “The Lord knows everything. He has his reasons” Jeeter tells his family (Caldwell 54). This shows the reader that when in doubt to turn to
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