Post 2 of 10 (Ch. 4-6) - Griselda

Griselda Casillas
Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck

Read and Post by Oct. 28

Hey Julianna,

           In chapter four I saw that a theme Tom Joad portrayed was warmhearted because he grabbed the turtle that was on the dirt road for his little brother. Tom said, “Thought I’d take ‘im to my little brother. Kids like turtles” (21). Tom seems to like Jim Casy (who was once a preacher, but not anymore) because he told him right away why he had been in jail. Tom explained, “I’d do what I done—again. I killed a guy in a fight. We was drunk at a dance. He got a knife in me, an’ I killed him with a shovel that was layin’ there…” (25).

Both of them went to look for Tom’s house, but when they got there, the house didn’t look the same. What do you think happened to the house? Where do you think Tom’s family is now? Do you think that they had to abandon their house in those four years Tom was in jail because the bank took it away from them? Or do you think there is another reason?

In chapter five I noticed that the author gave an example of a family who got their house taken away from the bank. The people see the banks as monsters and not real humans. Who do you think is the head leader of this horrible act? Do you think this was true in the past (families getting their house taken away by the bank)?
I agree with you that chapter 6 is depressing for Tom, but later gets rewarded by seeing his family again. It was such an irony that Muley showed up and gave them the news that Tom’s family was at his uncles. I think Muley is a bit irrational because I think it would be better for him to go to his family and stop trespassing on property that isn’t his anymore. I think it would be better to go with his family instead of roaming around the town.