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The Grapes of Wrath Essay

In modern and past societies, the government always has ultimate control and often exercises this power by exploiting common citizens. In "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck, the relationship between higher powers and subordinates is illustrated through the journey of an Oklahoma family during the Great Depression. Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, “The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson, and “On Dumpster Diving” by Lars Eighner also reflect the ideas of individuals and where they stand in society. It is the duty of an individual to confront injustice by making alliances with others and acting in ways that will benefit the most people.

Every single day, injustices are forced upon people who do not always deserve them. In "The Grapes of Wrath" set in the Dust Bowl region of Oklahoma, poor and destitute farmers constantly felt the iron jaws of the government. At the beginning of the novel, the land owners drove the poor tenants off of the land and explained, “We’re sorry. It’s not us. It’s the monster. The bank isn’t like a man.” (pg. 28) This shows that the land owners were being controlled by the government and the government was therefore treating the farmers unfairly. The farmers were stripped of their land and everything they had invested their lives in. Steinbeck describes California-bound travelers as “…refugees from dust and shrinking land, from the thunder of tractors and shrinking ownership…” (pg. 103) These hardships were brought about by ruthless land owners working for the government. If these government-employed “robots” had not taken the farmers’ land and exploited them, the farmers would not have found themselves in the predicament that they were in. In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau also explains how the government is unjust when he states, “Governments show thus how successfully men can be imposed on, even impose on themselves, for their own advantage.” (Part 1) This example proves that the government is a powerful tool in which over privileged citizens can gain wealth and other splendors for themselves. It also shows how a government does not work in favor of the common man.

One way injustices are created is through human selfishness. In "The Grapes of Wrath," poverty-stricken farmers were constantly taken advantage of while trying to purchase automobiles for the long trip to California. “‘Get ‘em out in a jalopy. Sock it to ‘em! They took our time.” (pg. 53) Car salesmen were extremely selfish and unsympathetic towards these farmers. They wanted to sell vehicles fast to make a profit, but did not take any pride in what they were selling. These ideas of selfishness can also be seen in “The Ways We Lie” by Stephanie Ericsson. Lying shows a great amount of selfishness and can lead to many problems. Ericsson states, “I once tried going a whole week without telling a lie, and it was paralyzing. I discovered that telling the truth all the time is nearly impossible.” For many people, telling the truth in sticky situations is hard, but not telling the truth can be worse. All in all, selfishness causes injustices to people who are, most of the time, undeserving of them.

In order for a person to confront injustice, it is absolutely necessary for that person to gather with other people opposed to getting into confrontation alone. This can lead to a stronger cause and a more forceful sense of unity. Steinbeck describes the movement of laborers into unions and the uncertainty that it causes for everyone. “The great owners, striking at the immediate thing, the widening government, the growing labor unity...” (pg. 132) This example shows the beginning of a gradual social shift of farmers into organized unions. It was a tense time because no one was certain of what the future would bring. “...they huddled together; they talked together; they shared their lives, their food, and the things they hoped for in the new country.” (pg. 171-172) This shows the positive aspects of the bonds created by the farmers. Bonding allowed them to share what they had with others and get things in return. The notion of companionship is also described in “On Dumpster Diving” by Lars Eighner which is an account that glorifies the art of digging through trash. “I have tried scrounging cans with an able-bodied companion.” (Eighner) Most anything done with more than one person is easier that “flying solo.” Any kind of unionization, whether present in dumpster diving or amongst Depression-era farmers can be constructive and helpful.

In conclusion, citizens can confront injustice by banding together with other people in similar situations and acting in ways that will benefit many people. If everyone looks past their own personal wants, societies will become healthier and more people will benefit.