The Failure of the American Dream
The Grapes of WrathCritiques the myth of California as a promised land, showing the harsh reality of exploitation and inequality.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingThe Handbill Promise
The Illusion
The Orange Handbill
The handbill promises good wages and plenty of work. It lures the Joads west. It is a lie.
The Hope
The family believes in the dream. They think California will be a land of milk and honey. They are naive.
The Reality
The handbill is a tool to attract surplus labor. It drives down wages. The dream is a deception.
The Reality of California
The Disillusionment
The Hatred
The Joads are called Okies and treated with contempt. They are unwanted. The dream turns sour.
The Exploitation
They work for starvation wages. They are cheated at the company store. The system is rigged.
The Violence
They face violence from deputies and vigilantes. The American dream is a nightmare.
The Enduring Hope
The Resilience
The Loss
The family loses everything: land, home, baby. The dream is dead.
The Survival
Yet they survive. They help each other. They find humanity in the barn.
The New Dream
The novel suggests that the old dream is false. A new dream of solidarity and justice must replace it. The failure of the American dream leads to a new vision.
early in the story
after arrival
the end of the novel
