GOW+Ch18+Passages

=Chapter 18 Passages=

1. "Well, we're here. This here's California, an' she don't look so prosperous...Never seen so such tough mountains. This here's a murder country...I seen pitchers of a country flat an' green, an' with little houses like Ma says, white...Get to thinkin' they ain't no such country." (p. 277 - 278).


 * Analysis:**

This is a very important part of the story because at this point in time, the family finally arrives in California. Granted, they are still in the desert, and their journey is not quite over, reaching the state line is a huge accomplishment. The sight of the desert is disappointing and alarming for the Joads because the only thing that has allowed them to continue pushing through all of the obstacles throughout their journey has been the promise of reaching this rich, green land. Seeing the desert seems to confirm their fears that California may not be the heaven on earth that they were expecting to find. Tom even says that he is beginning to realize that the wonderful haven that everyone has been talking about can't exist in reality.

2. "Well, Okie use' ta mean you was from Oklahoma. Now it means you're a dirty son-of-a-bitch. Okie means you're scum. Don't mean nothing itself, it's the way they say it...An' them people that owns it is gonna hang on to it if they got ta kill ever'body in the worl' to do it. An' they're scairt, an' that makes 'em mad." (p. 280).


 * Analysis:**

This passage describes all of the hatred and fear that Americans had for the migrant families traveling across the nation. The term "okie" became a derogatory term to describe people that traveled from the Midwest westward to California in hopes of a fresh start. The fear and lack of compassion caused a lot of tension in the West causing people to become paranoid and doing whatever they thought was necessary to make sure that they kept their land and possessions. Most "okies" didn't understand why the Californians hated them so much when all they wanted was to be able to feed their families and have a steady job.