The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
Series: Standalone
Genre: Classic Literature • Historical Fiction • Social Realism
 
Tropes:
Family on a desperate journey
Struggle against systemic injustice
Hope and resilience amid hardship
 
Summary:
Set during the Great Depression, The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family after drought, poverty, and eviction force them from their Oklahoma farm. With dreams of opportunity, they travel west toward California, only to encounter new forms of exploitation, discrimination, and broken promises.
Through vivid, unflinching prose, Steinbeck chronicles both the Joads’ personal fight for dignity and the broader suffering of displaced workers across America. As the family confronts hunger, loss, and relentless injustice, their endurance becomes a testament to human resilience and solidarity.
A landmark of American literature, the novel exposes the harsh realities of economic inequality while celebrating the enduring hope that binds people together in their darkest moments.