The Struggles of Migrants in The Grapes of Wrath

TLDRIn chapter 20 of The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads face challenges and injustice as they try to find work and survive. The landowners take advantage of the desperate migrants, paying them low wages and then forcefully removing them once the work is done. The Joads are confronted with poverty, dilapidated living conditions, and the constant fear of uncertainty.

Key insights

🌍The Joads and other migrants face appalling living conditions and struggle to find work.

💰The landowners exploit the migrants by offering low wages and using them for their own profit.

😡Tom becomes enraged by the unjust system and believes that something needs to be done to change it.

🤝Friendships and connections are formed among the migrants, offering support and solidarity in their shared hardships.

🔥The Hooverville, where the Joads set up camp, is eventually burned down, forcing them to move on.

Q&A

What are the living conditions like for the migrants?

The migrants live in filthy and dilapidated conditions, struggling to find proper shelter and basic amenities.

How do the landowners exploit the migrants?

The landowners take advantage of the migrants' desperation and offer them low wages, making a profit off their labor.

Why does Tom get angry?

Tom gets angry because he sees the injustice and inequality in the system and believes that something should be done to address it.

Do the migrants support each other?

Yes, the migrants form friendships and connections, offering support and solidarity in their shared hardships.

What happens to the Hooverville?

The Hooverville is eventually burned down, forcing the Joads and other migrants to find another place to stay.

Timestamped Summary

00:09The Joads arrange for Grandma's burial, but they can't afford a proper funeral.

00:20The Joads set up camp in a Hooverville with deplorable living conditions.

00:29Tom gets angry at the unfair system and believes something needs to be done about it.

00:42A government camp nearby offers better living conditions, giving hope to the migrants.

01:07Floyd informs Al and Tom about job prospects up north.

01:26A contractor arrives, promising work, but tensions rise when a deputy sheriff gets involved.

01:59Uncle John gets drunk as the Joads prepare to leave the Hooverville.

02:21Tom knocks Uncle John unconscious to ensure his safety during their escape.