The Role of Class and Social Mobility in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (1939)

Expanding the Roles:
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a novel that follows the Joad family as they travel westward from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. The family faces economic hardship, poverty, and social injustice as they struggle to survive in a society that dehumanizes the poor. For literature students, The Grapes of Wrath offers a scathing critique of social inequality and the American Dream, while exploring the emotional and physical toll of class struggles.

• Class and Economic Hardship:
  The Joads’ journey is a direct reflection of the economic inequality faced by migrant workers during the Great Depression. Literature students can explore how Steinbeck uses the Joad family’s experiences to highlight the struggles of the working class and the disparity between rich and poor in capitalist society.

• Social Mobility and the American Dream:
  The novel critiques the myth of the American Dream by showing how the Joads’ quest for a better life is thwarted by societal and economic forces beyond their control. Students can analyze how Steinbeck portrays the illusion of social mobility in a system that is stacked against the disadvantaged.

What We Learn:
The Grapes of Wrath provides literature students with a powerful examination of class, economic hardship, and social inequality. The novel encourages reflection on the barriers to social mobility and the moral consequences of a society that marginalizes the poor.