The grapes of economic uncertainty
Image by Drmvm1, Flickr Creative Commons
With the recent economic crises, people are comparing our current situation to the “dirty thirties” and predicting that the recent economic situation could be similar to the Great Depression.
The Grapes Of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck and published in 1939 is set during the Great Depression and follows the Joad Family, who due to economic hardship, abandon their home in Oklahoma and head out to California, where they have been told money and jobs are plentiful. Below are some pictures of homeless families traveling across the country to look for work during the Great Depression.
Through the Joad’s travels and their experience in California, where the supply of people looking for work far outweighs the demand for labour, Steinbeck captures their experience with such resounding profundity that the novel became an instant American classic. Steinbeck was awarded both the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize for literature for this book, however not everyone was enamoured with it. California farmers, who felt the representation of how they treated the migrants was libellous, were so enraged with the book that they banned and burned the novel. Below is a photo of men burning a copy of the book.
In 1940, the book was made into a movie, which starred Henry Fonda and was directed by John Ford. The film version was nominated for numerous Academy Awards and won two. Below is the trailer of the movie.
After watching the movie, Woody Guthrie, an American singer/songwriter and folk musician, was so inspired that he recorded the ballad of “Tom Joad” which summarizes the plot of the book. It had to be recorded in two parts due to its length. Many of Guthrie’s songs were inspired by the conditions that working class families, such as the Joads, faced during the Great Depression.
Although it’s unlikely that we’re going to experience another Great Depression, economic uncertainty is going to continue. With an imminent slowdown in the economy, I’m going to pick up on some of the thrifty tricks my grandfather, who lived through the Great Depression, taught me. Pick up Steinbeck’s novel and enjoy the read, it’s a very enjoyable and economical way to spend an afternoon!
Tags: academy, books, burning, depression, dirty thirties, dust bowl, economic slowdown, folk music, grapes of wrath, great depression, guthrie, hendry fonda, john ford, john steinbeck, nobel, pulitzer, steinbeck, Tom Joad, woody guthrie
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