Steinbeck wrote this chapter to expose the injustice of the car salesmen exploiting migrants by overcharging for necessary car parts. The migrants have to pay increased prices because the salesmen know they can take advantage of them as the people have no other option but to pay in order to continue their journey. " They look a fella over. They know he got to go on. They know he can't wait. And the price goes up" (120). This exploitation is evident as the salesmen attempt to overcharge the migrants for damaged products and migrants are forced to respond, “Got to, I guess. Let’s look her over. Open her up, look a’ the casing—you son-a-bitch, you said the casing was good. She’s broke damn near through” (121). This injustice results from the lack of support built into society to protect the consumer from being taken advantage of and the lack of available resources to help them improve their situation. However, despite the hardhsips the migrants experience, the chapter ends with renewed hope and faith in the human race after the story of how a family successfully traveled to California by relying on strangers to feed them and pull their trailer. It is observed that "The people in flight from the terror behind-strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refired forever" (122).
Why does Steinbeck include the anecdote about the family after exposing the harsh conditions of the migrants' lives?
Steinbeck exposes injustice of how car salesmen take advantage of vulnerable migrants as the move West
Migrants have difficulty asserting themselves to fight the injustice because they do not have resources to alter the oppressive system on an individual level
The chapter ends with renewed faith in the human race
Individuals Confronting Injustice
The fight against injustice must originate within each individual, but the movement for equality of treatment becomes more effective as people unite in a common cause.An individual can assert himself by demanding fair treatment and refusing to buy the damaged products the salesmen are supplying. "I'll go on the rim before I'd give that son-of-a-bitch a dime" (121). However, the boycott is more effective when a large number of people participate, furthering Steinbeck’s claim that individuals can achieve greater success as an organized group. In this chapter, Steinbeck addresses the concerns of the entire migrant population as they struggle through obstacles along their journey. The migrants also had to struggle to overcome the prejudice of others that declared, "There ain't room enough for you an' me, for your kind an' my kind, for rich and poor together all in one country, for thieves and honest men...Whyn't you go back where you come from" (120). In order to overcome the lack of structure within Californian soceity that provided for the proper treatment and acceptance of the migrants, the people had to assimilate into California’s society without losing their personal identity. Although the individuals may have not have effectively confronted injustice, by beginning the process of change, the movement for equality and justice will be carried on by future generations.
Individuals must recognize and understand an injustice to advocate for the correction of the entire system in order to confront that particular injustice
The movement to correct the injustice becomes more effective when the individual becomes part of a stronger group that can command more authority
Assert themselves through refusal to buy products and the formation of organized groups
one family can refuse to buy the overpriced, poor-quality car parts, but the system will only begin the change when a larger group refuses the buy the goods and the salesmen have to alter their methods to maintain their business
Determining Right from Wrong
Individuals in The Grapes of Wrath deem whether an action is acceptable according to their personal beliefs. Although the individual makes the ultimate decision about what action to take, their beliefs are influenced by societal standards that are in turn influenced by biblical teachings and the limitations of farm life that force people to rely on and assist the entire community in order to survive. These moral principles that dictate all aspects of life, including business, are tested as the migrants encounter new situations and people on the road that do not live by their code of ethics. The migrants trust that the car salesmen will follow the same principles of doing what is morally right to help others, instead of acting selfishly to fulfill a lust for wealth. However, the salesmen are only concerned about profits and recognize the inequity of the situation that a, “Fella in business got to lie an’ cheat, but he calls it somepin else. You go steal that tire an’ you’re a thief, but he tried to steal your four dollars for a busted tire. They call that sound business” (121). Each individual must then decide whether to accept the corrupt business practices or use alternative methods for procuring the materials because they believe the salesmen are morally wrong for taking advatage of the consumers.
Individuals deem whether an action is acceptable according to their own beliefs, which are influenced by social standards, biblical teachings, and the restrictions of farm life
Moral principles of migrants are tested as they encounter people, like the salesmen, who do not follow their code of ethics in their pursuit of wealth
Steinbeck wrote this chapter to expose the injustice of the car salesmen exploiting migrants by overcharging for necessary car parts. The migrants have to pay increased prices because the salesmen know they can take advantage of them as the people have no other option but to pay in order to continue their journey. " They look a fella over. They know he got to go on. They know he can't wait. And the price goes up" (120). This exploitation is evident as the salesmen attempt to overcharge the migrants for damaged products and migrants are forced to respond, “Got to, I guess. Let’s look her over. Open her up, look a’ the casing—you son-a-bitch, you said the casing was good. She’s broke damn near through” (121). This injustice results from the lack of support built into society to protect the consumer from being taken advantage of and the lack of available resources to help them improve their situation. However, despite the hardhsips the migrants experience, the chapter ends with renewed hope and faith in the human race after the story of how a family successfully traveled to California by relying on strangers to feed them and pull their trailer. It is observed that "The people in flight from the terror behind-strange things happen to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is refired forever" (122).
Why does Steinbeck include the anecdote about the family after exposing the harsh conditions of the migrants' lives?
- Steinbeck exposes injustice of how car salesmen take advantage of vulnerable migrants as the move West
- Migrants have difficulty asserting themselves to fight the injustice because they do not have resources to alter the oppressive system on an individual level
- The chapter ends with renewed faith in the human race
Individuals Confronting InjusticeThe fight against injustice must originate within each individual, but the movement for equality of treatment becomes more effective as people unite in a common cause.An individual can assert himself by demanding fair treatment and refusing to buy the damaged products the salesmen are supplying. "I'll go on the rim before I'd give that son-of-a-bitch a dime" (121). However, the boycott is more effective when a large number of people participate, furthering Steinbeck’s claim that individuals can achieve greater success as an organized group. In this chapter, Steinbeck addresses the concerns of the entire migrant population as they struggle through obstacles along their journey. The migrants also had to struggle to overcome the prejudice of others that declared, "There ain't room enough for you an' me, for your kind an' my kind, for rich and poor together all in one country, for thieves and honest men...Whyn't you go back where you come from" (120). In order to overcome the lack of structure within Californian soceity that provided for the proper treatment and acceptance of the migrants, the people had to assimilate into California’s society without losing their personal identity. Although the individuals may have not have effectively confronted injustice, by beginning the process of change, the movement for equality and justice will be carried on by future generations.
Determining Right from Wrong
Individuals in The Grapes of Wrath deem whether an action is acceptable according to their personal beliefs. Although the individual makes the ultimate decision about what action to take, their beliefs are influenced by societal standards that are in turn influenced by biblical teachings and the limitations of farm life that force people to rely on and assist the entire community in order to survive. These moral principles that dictate all aspects of life, including business, are tested as the migrants encounter new situations and people on the road that do not live by their code of ethics. The migrants trust that the car salesmen will follow the same principles of doing what is morally right to help others, instead of acting selfishly to fulfill a lust for wealth. However, the salesmen are only concerned about profits and recognize the inequity of the situation that a, “Fella in business got to lie an’ cheat, but he calls it somepin else. You go steal that tire an’ you’re a thief, but he tried to steal your four dollars for a busted tire. They call that sound business” (121). Each individual must then decide whether to accept the corrupt business practices or use alternative methods for procuring the materials because they believe the salesmen are morally wrong for taking advatage of the consumers.