GOW+Ch16+Summary

Highway 66 becomes the “home” and connection to their goal of California for the Joads and the Wilsons as they continue moving westward. Rose of Sharon spouts off about her dreams for her and her husband; saying that Al can work for Connie once he obtains his own store, but Al has no interest in being his subordinate. Ma is also angered by this proposition as she does not want to see the family go its separate ways, but then she realizes that it’s just a dream and a false one as we will find out. All of a sudden the Wilsons car breaks down. Tom wants the rest of the family to continue on to California, saying that he and Casy can catch up later once they’ve repaired the car. Pa is all for the plan but Ma even gets violent in her protest of this idea as we once again run into her theory of “holdin’ on.” She refuses to see the family split up and eventually gets her way, showing her growing role within the family. Grandma is very unwell, so Ma goes off to find a place to stay for the night while Tom and Casy begin to fix the car. Casy has his doubts about California while Tom will only take each day as it comes. Al and Tom are able to get a good deal on the parts they need from a wrecking yard. The worker there hates his boss so is willing to help out his fellow man in time of trouble. After repairing the car, Tom and Al join the others at the campsite, where they will be paying 50 cents. After the man at the camp charges 50 cents a car Pa decides they won’t stay at the camp, after an argument between Tom and the owner. A stranger tells them of the pitiful state of labor in California, saying that when a landowner needs 800 hands he’ll print 5000 handbills and get 20, 000 people, thus driving down the labor cost to near dirt! This is our first Glimpse at the state of California. This news upsets Pa and Casy tries to make him keep hope. Ma is still set in her dream, and wants to get to California. Uncle John and Tom then go off to search for a different place to stay the night.