Analysis

Analysis  **Thesis** In Chapter nine of //The Grapes of Wrath//, John Steinbeck makes it clear that the injustice the people of the Great Depression had to face was their lack of resources to adapt along with their country. Many are stuck in the past, focusing on each of their individual past lives. To overcome this injustice, many families came together and started a new life, leaving behind old memories and old ways. Only when the families were able to let go of the past were they able to overcome the injustice, move on to the future and learn to adapt.

In this chapter, the people are being forced to sell their belongings at almost no cost. With the banks kicking them out of their lands they are in no position to bargain for a higher price. However, the men know that they must sell their belongings for anything they can get because it is their only option. The selling of items is a symbol of the families putting their past lives behind them. " Your not buying only junk, you're buying junked lives." (pg. 87) This quote shows the conection of the items to the farmers' lives. When the men return from their selling they find the women going through their belongings, recollecting memories. As they go through the items they keep only those that they find absolutely essential, and burn the rest. This act is a symbol of the familiy putting their past behind them and using only their best traits in their adaptation to a new life.

Throughout the chapter there are no quotation marks used. This is a reflection of the loss of individuality the people experience. This must occur in order to overcome the injustice they face.


 * ==**inability to bargain symbolizes inability to adapt**==
 * ==**burning items symbolizes attempt to move on**==
 * ==loss of individuality==