P4+KWhite

Civil disobedience is an individual’s responsibility when confronting injustice. In the Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck believes that in order to overcome oppression the individuals must unite. Only through this unity coupled with a passive movement will the individuals be triumphant. The book shows the process of coming together to fight the battle against injustice. "Rose of Sharon loosened one side of the blanket and bared her breast, "You got to,” she said. She squirmed closer and pulled his head close. "There!" she said. "There." Her hand moved behind his head and supported it. Her fingers moved gently in his hair. She looked up and across the barn, and her lips came together and smiled mysteriously." By feeding this man in order to keep him alive Rose of Sharon is uniting together in order to defeat the injustice.  By this act she and the rest of the family are saying that they are refusing to give up.

Martin Luther King is another great example of an individual who could unite people in order to overcome oppression. With every speech delivered by Martin Luther King, a sense of unity and strength was sent through the masses. Only through the uniting of the people and non-violent acts could they persevere.

In the communities that were set up by the immigrants who were going to California unity was established through the way they set up the structure. The immigrants needed to feel as though they were united in the cause of finding a better life. "Every night a world created, complete with furniture-friends make and enemies established.” By creating a society they are banning together and create a stable world in the middle of chaos.     Without unity it causes dysfunction which in turn produces losers, on both ends.  When the oppressed don’t join together nothing is done.  Like for instance Muley’s life shows what division of the oppressed does when it leaves one person to fight.     “An I got wanderin’ aroun’.  Jus walkin’ aroun’.  Never went far.  Slep’ wherever I was.  I’d tell myself, ‘I’m lookin’ after things so when all the folks come back it’ll be all right.’  But I knowed that wasn’t true.” By him staying back it just contributed to the pain of oppression and helped no one.

In conclusion, sticking together in the face of injustice and using tactics like civil disobedience is the only way that you will prevail.