The Intercalary Chapters
The Grapes of WrathExamines the function of the general chapters that provide a broader perspective on the migrant experience and social commentary.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
Bearing strength in each eventdecreasingThe Dust Bowl Chapter
The Setting
The Description
The first chapter describes the dust storms that ruined the land. It sets the stage for the migration. It is a general chapter.
The Tone
The tone is poetic and biblical. It creates a sense of doom. The land is dying.
The Function
This chapter provides the context for the Joads' story. It shows that the disaster is widespread. It is not just one family.
The Used Car Lot
The Exploitation
The Scene
A used car lot is depicted. Salesmen cheat the migrants. They sell junk cars at high prices. The chapter is a general indictment.
The Dialogue
The chapter is written in a rapid, fragmented style. It captures the greed and dishonesty.
The Function
This chapter shows the exploitation migrants face before they even leave. It is a critique of capitalism.
The California Landscape
The Waste
The Description
This chapter describes the beauty of California's fruit and the tragedy of its waste. Oranges are sprayed with kerosene, pigs are slaughtered.
The Anger
The chapter is filled with anger. It condemns the system that destroys food while people starve.
The Function
This chapter provides the social and economic context for the migrants' suffering. It is a powerful indictment.
Chapter 1
Chapter 7
Chapter 25
