Book Review: THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"In the eyes of the hungry there is a growing wrath.
In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage."

I read this book with a storm screaming outside, to match the tempest of emotions stirred up by my least favorite of Steinbeck's works so far. Although undoubtedly a masterpiece, it truly will break your heart.

This was my 3rd Steinbeck. In the appendix of my previous Steinbeck book, he wrote that "When THE GRAPES OF WRATH (TGOW) got loose, a lot of people were pretty mad at me." And he proceeded to tell of a warning given him by the sheriff of Santa Clara not to go anywhere alone, because there were concrete plans to set him up with a rape case.

What book could rile people up enough to want to destroy the author? I wondered.

And now I know.

For if EAST OF EDEN was Genesis, with the hope and promise of new beginnings despite all the tragedy, then TGOW is Exodus, down to inhumane slavery and the baby floating downriver in a box.

It is the Exodus of thousands of migrant worker families from Oklahoma to California in the 1930's, looking for work, BEGGING for bread. Not seeking to enrich themselves, but only to feed themselves and keep their children from starving.

It is Exodus with modern day serfs, where masters and landowners and banks would rather soak oranges in kerosene than let ravenous children eat the excess. Because the food must rot so prices of produce can remain the same.

It is the Exodus of humanity and decency. Reading this book made me realize that the hatred that some whites show to coloreds is no suprise, because of the hatred they showed fellow white "Oakies."

It is the hatred for the Other, for those with a different accent, a different way of life.

It is hatred borne from fear that the new group will take what precious jobs they have.

Corruption abounds... within the police force, and the moral corruption of religious zealots quick to damn others for little joys, exulting in the spread of Misery, mistaking it for the Gospel.

There's plenty here to rile plenty of people up.

Still so relevant and true, nearly a century later. TGOW is necessary reading, but I don't think I shall be rereading it again. Ever. It hurt too much the first time.

But then, lacerating the heart is a sign of great literature. And this is truly, truly great.

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