The Grapes of Wrath is truly one of the most uplifting novels ever written.
Now, many people familiar with the plot of the novel may be wondering about the above statement. The prospect of a dirt-poor Oklahoma family heading to California during the Depression in a desperate and ultimately vain attempt to find work and a place to call home does not sound like a fun, happy novel. And that's quite true. It is a harrowing, painful, disturbing novel. It is frequently depressing. So why my opening statement?
The novel is, ultimately, a testament to the endurance of humanity, a haunting tribute to the eternal hope of the human spirit. While many characters die, disappear, give up and lose their way, ultimately faith in existence is justified by Steinbeck, and the haunting journey he takes us on is rewarded for those who make it through to the end.
The central character of the novel is Tom Joad, an ex-convict returning home after a spell in prison. He returns to find his family turfed off their land by the owners who rented it to them, and living with their uncle. The novel is simultaneously a tale of their exile to California, their loss and sorrow and the ultimate salvation, and also a wider view of the period, the elegy of an entire generation wiped out by "the bank", economy let loose and out of control.
Steinbeck brilliantly splits the book in two, alternately spending chapters on the struggle of the Joads and the struggle of a nation desperately trying to find it's footing. It shows clearly Steinbeck's empathy for the working class, and his hatred of the selfishness and greed of capitalism.
The novel is not a pleasant read, but it is an important novel, and is very rewarding for those who can make it through.

Recommended: Yes