The Selfishness Of Man in Steinbecks Grapes of Wrath Essay -- essays

The Selfishness of ManCultural and economical pressures often touch people to behave corruptly. In John Steinbeck?s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, set in the dustbowl era, people act out of greed rather than out of shape or kindness. Tom Joad and his family have been acquit off their land by inconsiderate, m cardinaly hungry business community who do not care some the impact homelessness will have on the evictees. The story revolves around the Joad Family?s trip (joined by former preacher Casey) from Oklahoma to California, along travel guidebook 66, where they expect to find work. Though Casey and the Joads are goodhearted and honest people, they are the victims of imposture and dupery when they realize that the jobs they have experience so far to look at pay them much less than they were originally promised. The book focuses on the family?s struggle to survive, while exhibiting the evil and manipulative power which the tenant owners and business community of the era possess ed. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck demonstrates the impacts and consequences of mans selfishness and inhumanity by exemplifying the wicked and egotistic actions of the tenant owners and businessmen.In the beginning of the novel, before Casey and the Joads set out on their journey, the selfishness and inhumanity of the businessmen and tenant owners becomes apparent. In one of the ?plotless? chapters, the reader is subject to the hardships which the farmers are forced to face while being evicted from their land. Businessmen, sent from the bank, would come to the farmers land in cars and explain to the farmers that they need to get off their land. They would announce the farmers that unfortunately, with the technological advances being made, a tractor can do the work of 12 families- h... ... rendering the much needed food useless. The inconsiderate actions displayed by the businessmen and orchard owners show their selfishness and inhumanity, and exemplify their carelessness and i ndifference towards suffering humans.Steinbeck portrays the blotto men of the era as heartless and egotistical people who barely care for themselves. His message through the portrayal of these wicked men is one of simplicity, egotism, greed, selfishness, and heartlessness are all traits which a man shouldn?t possess. The themes which run throughout the novel are as valuable today as they were in the mid 1900?s, and Steinbeck urges his reader to recognize that. His depiction of the selfishness of man serves to learn about human nature, and by acknowledging the harmfulness of the greedy and corrupt businessmen, one can learn how to act morally and ethnically responsible.