A quote that shows the closeness of the families is "And the worlds were built in the evening. The people, moving in from the highways, made them with their tents and their hearts and their brains"(195). The families transition from the sedentary life in their jalopies to migrant camps in the evening. The camps makes them able to meet and connect with others who face the same plight. The bonds created by interactions, however temporary, give people the chance to have a community at a time when everyone is fearful for the future. Like an organized neighborhoods, the migrant camps are run with unofficial regulations. "And the laws, the punishments- and there were only two- a quick and murderous fight or ostracism; and ostracism was the worst"(194). Being outcasted from the group is considered the worst punishment because the offenders will lose the sense of unity that comes with being part of a community. In addition, the offenders will never be able to find a group since their reputations will be known in migrant circles.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Chapters 16-19 (H) *
The circular lives of the migrants serves to highlight the idea that a sense of community is integral for the migrants to continue with their journeys. The repetition in the peoples' lives causes them to fall into patterns of isolation during the day and bonding time at nighttime. The routine of traveling by day and camping with other migrants at night shows how the migrants are trying to instill a sense of familiarity in the midst of confusion about their futures. The migrant camps are breeding grounds for community where the migrants confide with each other about their struggles and their goal of finding work in California. Even though the voyage is full of obstacles, migrants are able to persevere in part because of unity that they create with each other through sharing the same struggle and dream. Steinbeck stresses the importance of family and friends in chapter 17, but in this section, the Joads lose the Wilsons, Noah, and Grandma. The disintegration of the Joad family juxtaposed withe the tight-knit migrant camp communities demonstrates that the Joads may not be able to keep their morale up because close bonds with other people is needed to mitigate the hardships of the trip. Without the bonds with other migrant families, the Joads will feel alone and unable to seek help and advice from others.
A quote that shows the closeness of the families is "And the worlds were built in the evening. The people, moving in from the highways, made them with their tents and their hearts and their brains"(195). The families transition from the sedentary life in their jalopies to migrant camps in the evening. The camps makes them able to meet and connect with others who face the same plight. The bonds created by interactions, however temporary, give people the chance to have a community at a time when everyone is fearful for the future. Like an organized neighborhoods, the migrant camps are run with unofficial regulations. "And the laws, the punishments- and there were only two- a quick and murderous fight or ostracism; and ostracism was the worst"(194). Being outcasted from the group is considered the worst punishment because the offenders will lose the sense of unity that comes with being part of a community. In addition, the offenders will never be able to find a group since their reputations will be known in migrant circles.
A quote that shows the closeness of the families is "And the worlds were built in the evening. The people, moving in from the highways, made them with their tents and their hearts and their brains"(195). The families transition from the sedentary life in their jalopies to migrant camps in the evening. The camps makes them able to meet and connect with others who face the same plight. The bonds created by interactions, however temporary, give people the chance to have a community at a time when everyone is fearful for the future. Like an organized neighborhoods, the migrant camps are run with unofficial regulations. "And the laws, the punishments- and there were only two- a quick and murderous fight or ostracism; and ostracism was the worst"(194). Being outcasted from the group is considered the worst punishment because the offenders will lose the sense of unity that comes with being part of a community. In addition, the offenders will never be able to find a group since their reputations will be known in migrant circles.
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