GOW+Ch1+to+3-Summary

 Back Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

**Chapter 1 (top)


 * The novel begins with an intercalary chapter, giving the reader the larger picture of the struggle that Steinbeck will put a human face to in the second chapter. The novel will mostly follow this structure throughout the novel, alternating between a "wide-angle" view, highlighting the tragedy of the Dust Bowl, and a narrower focus on the Joad family with its more personal account of the tragedy.



Chapter one follows this wide-to-narrow focus, beginning with Steinbeck's (a [|naturalist]) description of the once fertile farmland of Oklahoma. In the first paragraph the author takes us from a general description of the "red country," Oklahoma, to a close up view of the earth crusted "pink in the red country and white in the gray country."

The "camera" then moves in to give a picture of the reactions of the wild and plant life to the drought as Steinbeck transitions to human concerns with a bit of personification: **and the wind cried and whimpered over the fallen corn**. Corn, which requires great attention to grow successfully, operates as an excellent symbol of the ties between humanity and the earth, a major theme in many of Steinbeck's works

Steinbeck begins his description of the humans in this chapter by describing the houses that they huddle in, "shut tight, and cloth wedged around doors and windows," but the dust became a part of them, emphasizing the link between land and human as they "brushed [the dust] from their shoulders" even within the safety of their homes.

The relationship between man and nature is further developed as the people, even in their beds "awakened when the rushing wind was gone... lay quietly and listened into the stillness." like parents listening for the expected sounds of a sleeping child.

The camera pulls out again a bit as Steinbeck depicts the heirarchy that exists as part of the traditional family structure with which he begins the novel, traveling inward from family groups composed of men, women, and children to a quick succession of individual groups: children looking to parents; women looking to men; and finally, men looking to what the future might hold for them, looking inward and finding only uncertainty.

**Chapter 2 (top)


 * The second chapter continues with the wide-to-narrow-angle movement, opening with a description of a "huge red transport truck.., new.., shining red." Moving inward Steinbeck presents us with a faceless trucker conversing with a faceless waitress, in a roadside diner with out a name. In sharp contrast, we are introduced to a man (Tom Joad) through an exactingly detailed description who will become the main character of the novel.

In the author's use of description the reader is introduced to one of the central motifs of the novel: those who own property are in turn owned by it, and because of this become property (souless) themselves; those who have nothing but what they need for their existence, those who nurture and give, become human (increasingly so) in the process. When Tom first encounters the truck driver he gives the man a choice, saying, "sometimes a guy'll be a good guy even if some rich bastard makes him carry a sticker." The trucker, reluctant at first to give Tom a ride, relents and decides to let him ride. This illustrates this motiff as the trucker chooses to step outside of his assigned role, that of employee (which could be read as property in a capitalist or ownership society), and altruistically offer his assitance even if there is no material benefit in it.

There is a reason, though, that the trucker remains nameless throughout this encounter; ultimately, the driver shows that he objectifies Tom when he places undue emphasis on Tom's attire, which then leads to the step of labeling him as an ex-convict.

**Chapter 3 [|(top)]


 * The third chapter (another intercalary chapter) is brief. It tells the story of a "land turtle" as it journeys from one side of the Oklahoma highway to the other. Despite the obstacles that it encounters, even though it is hit once as it crosses the road, the turtle continues on--surviving.