John steinbeck The Grapes of Rath的解析

JohnsteinbeckTheGrapesofRath的解析HistoricalBackground.......AftertheFirstWorldWarturnedEuropeanfarmlandsintobattlefields,Americanagricultureprospered.Toimproveproductivity,theU.S.agriculturalindustryborrowedmoneyformachineryandmoreland.WhenEuroperesumedproductionafterthewar,Americanfarmownersreceivedfarlessforwheat,corn,andothercrops.Consequently,theyhadtostruggletorepayloans.Banksbegantoseizethepropertyofdefaultinglandownersandevictsharecropperslivingandworkingonthefarms.Afterthestockmarketcrashedin1929,theworldeconomyenteredadeepdepression.Onfarmsthatescapedforeclosure,financialprolemsworsened.Meanwhile,partsofOklahoma,Kansas,Texas,NewMexico,andColoradoexperiencedwidespreadsoilerosionasaresultofoverplantingthatstrippedawaygrassesneededtoholdthesoilinplace.Then,between1934and1937,droughtandwindturnedtheseagriculturalheartlandsintowhatanewspapercalledadustbowl.Banksseizedmorefarms,leavinghundredsofthousandsofsharecroppersandotherfarmlaborerswithoutwork.Becausetheseworkershadlittleornotraininginotheroccupations,theirprospectsfornewemploymentwereseverelylimited.Asaresult,manyofthemmovedwest,toCalifornia,respondingtohandbillsadvertisingforfieldworkers.FarmjobsinCaliforniawerethoughttobeplentifulpartlybecauseofitsfavorableclimateyearround.ThefictionalJoadfamily,onwhomSteinbeck’snovelcenters,entersthestreamofjobseekersboundforCaliforniafullofhope–andlittleelse.PlotSummaryByMichaelJ.Cummings...©2008.......DroughtsettlesinneartheendofMayinOklahoma.Dayafterday,thesunscorchesthecrops,andsoontheearthcrustsoverandturnstopowder.ByJune,roadtrafficandwindcarrythedusthighintotheair,andthesunbecomesa“dimredcircle,”thenarratorsays.Thecountryisalreadyinthemidstofaterribleeconomicdepression.NowthehardtimesbecomeevenharderforOklahomansmakingtheirlivingofftheland,aswellasforfarmlaborersinneighboringstates........Duringthistime,theOklahomastateprisonatMcAlesterreleasesamanofnomorethanthirtywhohopestoresumeworkingonhisfamily'stenantfarm.Whilehitchhikinghomeinhisgraycapandcheaphardclothsuit,heapproachesaroadsiderestaurantnearShawneeandsitsontherunningboardofatruckemblazonedwithcapitalletters:OKLAHOMACITYTRANSPORT.Hemopshisbrowwithhiscap.Insidetherestaurant,thetruckdriverpayshisbillandputshischange,twonickels,intoaslotmachine.Noluck........Theyfix'emsoyoucan'twinnothing,thedrivertellsthewaitress........Guytookthejackpotnotthreehoursago,shesays.Three-eightyhegot........Whenthedriverreturnstohistruck,themanontherunningboardasksforaride.Thedrivernotesthe“NoRiders”stickeronthewindshield,butthehitchhikersays,“Sure—Iseenit.Butsometimesaguy’llbeagoodguyevenifsomerichbastardmakeshimcarryasticker.”.......Thehitchhikergetshisride.Afterthetruckpullsout,thedriverasksquestionstopassthetime,andhispassengerintroduceshimselfasTomJoad.Hisfather,oldTomJoad,isasharecropperonaforty-acrefarmineasternOklahoma.Whenthedrivertalksabouthisefforttoimprovehimself—he’stakingacorrespondencecourseinmechanicalengineering—Joadtakesaflaskofwhiskeyfromacoatpocketandoffersthedriveraswig........“Aguycan’tdrinkliquorallthetimeandstudylikeI’mgoin’to,”thedriversays........Joadthentakestwogulpsand,later,anotherswallow........“YouknowwhereIcomefrom,don’tyou?”Joadsays,awarethatthedriverhasnoticedhisprisonapparel.“SureIbeeninMcAlester,”Joadsays.“SuretheseistheclothestheygivemewhenIcomeout.Idon’tgiveadamnwhoknowsit.An’I’mgoin’tomyoldman’splacesoIdon’thavetolietogetajob.”.......JustbeforethedriverdropshimattheturnofftotheJoadfarm,Tomsayshewassentencedtosevenyearsforkillingamanbutgotoutinfourforgoodbehavior........Onthehighwayleadingtothefarm,Joadwatchesasthedriverofalighttruckdeliberatelyswervestohitaturtle.Atirestrikestheedgeofitsshellandspinstheturtleofftheroad.Onitsback,theturtlereachesout,findsarock,turnsitselfover,andresumesitsjourney........Alongthewaytothefarm,Joadmeetsalean,gray-hairedmaninoverallssittingagainstatree,whistlingandsinging.ItisJimCasy,apreacherwhobaptizedTomwhenhewasaboy.Buthe’snolongeramanofthecloth,hesays,becausethespiritisn’tinhimanymoreandbecause“Iain’tsosureofalotofthings.”Joadoffershimadrinkandhetakesthreegoodswallows.Casysaystherewasatimewhenhe’dconductarevivalmeeting,thengooffintothegrasswithoneofthegirls........“Ifiggeredtherejustwasn’tnohopeforme,an’Iwasadamnedhypocrite.”.......Now,henolongeracceptsorthodoxbeliefsaboutsinandreligion.Whatcountsisloveandbeliefinthehumanspirit,hesays.Casy,unawarethatJoadhasbeeninprison,says,“Beentravelin’around?”Joadthenbringshimuptodate:Atadancewheretherewasplentyofalcoholgoingaround,amannamedHerbTurnbull“gotaknifeinme,an’Ikilledhimwithashovellayin’there.”Hewassentencedtosevenyearsbutparoledinfour........Casy,who’snotsurewhatthefutureholdsforhim,tagsalongwithJoadwhiletheygotothefarm.Atthetopofahill,theylookdownonit.Joadnoticesrightawaythat“Theyain’tnobodythere.”.......BankshadseizedthelandoftheJoadsandothersharecroppers.Whenlandproducesnocrops,ithastobeturnedtoanotheruseandmaybesoldtoeasternerswhohaveexpressedinterestinowningapieceofland.Wheredothefamiliesgo?Howdotheyeat?Wheredothemengetwork?Thebankcan’tworryaboutth