P3+RKnapp

As Human beings we all go through trials and tribulations. We all draw from these to help us decide what is right and what is wrong. These important life lessons help us in confronting injustices and standing up for what we believe in. In Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, the tenant farmers were being taken advantage of by their own acquaintances. Even though the acquaintances knew what they were doing was unjust and wrong they proceeded to do so because it was vital for their survival. People all have a general understanding of what is right and wrong but at times they suspend their knowledge of what is right for the sake of survival.

During the great depression people had a choice to make unselfish decisions but because of the hard times they made decisions that would only help themselves, no matter the coast of others. The people of this time who use to have money were now turning to those who are far less fortunate then and taking advantage of them. “…those creatures don’t breath air, don’t eat side-meat. They breath profits ;”( Ch. 5). This quote shows how people once they are in a situation of life or death they do not acknowledge the fact that others are suffering more than themselves. Right and wrong has no effect on their decision making. They will do whatever it takes to keep their head above the water. When people would try and stand up to those who were oppressing them nothing happened. There was so much injustice being done to them they could not help themselves. This is why Steinbeck believes that it is not the individuals’ job to stand up to injustice, but instead groups of individuals who all have the same hardships and share the same goals.

In Steinebek’s opinion confronting injustice is an important part of society. He does not believe that it should be done alone; it should be a group of people who have all have the same set of standards and similar goals. This is shown in chapter 17 when the now homeless farmers decide to meet every night a step up their own town, “in the daylight they scuttles like bugs to the westward; and as the dark caught them, they cluttered like bugs near to shelter and to water.”(Ch. 17) This shows how their life style had changed from something with stability to the new and unimproved more primitive way of life. Every day they were put into survival mode. They realized that forming together would allow them the opportunity to better their lifestyles, so they started to unionize. This example also shows the sacrifice that all of the farmers made by giving up some of their own freedom so that they could in turn have something more stable.

In this time period people there was an alarming number of people who were living on the streets. The government assumed that is was because of the economy but in reality over half of them had a substances abuse or mental disorder. These were the people that the government turned away. So when asking how people tell rights from wrong, people do what is best for themselves, no matter is it is right or wrong. Some people do make the choice to do what is right instead of trying to cheat and steal their way back up the social ladder. For example in the essay by Lars Eighner on Dumpster Diving he claims that dumpster divers are a more superior beings because they use others peoples wasted. Eighner describes how savaging through dumpsters supported his life style, "Boom boxes, candles, bedding, toilet paper, a virgin male love doll, medicine, books, a typewriter, dishes, furnishing, and change, sometimes amounting to many dollars--I acquired many things from the Dumpsters. "(Dumpster Diving). If the bank and the government both had roofs over their heads why did they still take everything from those who had nothing to begin with. The banks and government knew what they were doing was wrong but that did not stop them. People can chose to do what is right over what is wrong even if it means not living a luxurious life style. When Eighner lies in bed every night he can reassure himself that he has not taken unfair advantage of anyone, the same can’t be said for those of the banks and the government. While they are sleeping in warm beds with a roof over their head the peoples whose land they stole are sleeping on the streets. Telling right from wrong comes down to whether or not the individual can sleep at night. This can vary some between individuals but for the most part it is a consensus.

By analyzing these texts the conclusion can be made that the individual has to decide what is right and what is wrong. It is the individual’s duty to do what is right no matter the circumstances. The individual also has the obligation of standing up to injustice not only for themselves but for all of their community.