The Grapes of Wrath Chapter 21: The Anger of Migrants

TLDRIn Chapter 21 of The Grapes of Wrath, the highways are flooded with migrants who have become hostile and feared by the locals. The migrants work for low wages and struggle with hunger, which leads to anger and hostility. The chapter explores the various causes of anger and invites readers to empathize with the migrants' plight.

Key insights

🚚The migrants in The Grapes of Wrath face hostility and fear from the locals due to their desperate circumstances.

💰The migrants work for low wages and even lower wages, which benefits the owners by keeping wages down and prices up.

🍎The owners of canneries buy their own fruit at a low price, making a profit on selling canned goods and driving small farmers out of business.

😡The migrants' hunger turns to anger as they are surrounded by fruitful fields and yet suffer from constant hunger and hardship.

🌾Chapter 21 highlights the thin line between hunger and anger and explores the various causes of anger experienced by the migrants.

Q&A

Why are the migrants in The Grapes of Wrath feared by the locals?

The locals are afraid of the migrants because they see them as a threat to their own employment and well-being.

What contributes to the migrants' anger in Chapter 21?

The migrants face forcible eviction, hostile locals, cruel wages, and constant hunger, which all contribute to their anger.

How do the low wages of the migrants benefit the owners?

The owners benefit from the migrants' low wages because it helps to keep overall wages down and allows them to make a profit on selling their canned goods.

Why are the small farmers unable to compete with the owners of canneries?

The small farmers don't have the financial resources to compete with the owners of canneries, who can buy their own fruit at a low price and drive down the market for other farmers.

What does Chapter 21 of The Grapes of Wrath highlight?

Chapter 21 highlights the anger experienced by the migrants and the various reasons behind their anger, exploring the thin line between hunger and anger.

Timestamped Summary

00:01[Music]

00:09Chapter 21 of The Grapes of Wrath focuses on the flooded highways filled with migrants who are met with hostility and fear from the locals.

00:19The migrants have become hostile due to their fear, hunger, and lack of work, which further intensifies the locals' fear.

00:28The migrants work for low wages, which keeps overall wages down and benefits the owners.

00:37The owners of canneries buy their own fruit at a low price, making a profit on selling canned goods.

01:04The migrants' hunger turns to anger as they struggle with hunger despite being surrounded by fruitful fields.

01:17Chapter 21 explores the various causes of anger experienced by the migrants.

01:42Chapter 21 invites the readers to put themselves in the place of the migrants and empathize with their plight.