Grapes of Wrath Chapters 5 and 7

Chapter 5's tale is about the bank, known to the common folk as the"monster" (Steinbeck 34), kicking families off their land. The land isn't technically the farmers and their families, but they have been raised on that land, as have their parents and grandparents. The country is going through a great depression in the economy and no one has money to spend or to have be paid. I understand why the banks had to do what they did, but somehow the farmers should have been moved to a different location or allowed to keep something of their home/farm land. Plowing the family's house and barns down is a little excessive, but the banks have to make money. I am not endorsing the bank's action, but not condoning it either. People have to survive. It is a natural instinct in human beings. The banks need to have money, the farmers are not giving them money, therefore the banks have to take away the land away from the farmers.

Chapter 7 (another odd numbered short story) is about car salesmen pulling a fast one on the already unfortunate farmers. The farming families just can't catch a break! First their homes and land are taken and/or destroyed by the banks, and then when they try to move West, the salespeople take advantage of them. The salesmen change out the batteries in the cars, put sawdust in the engine, and fill up the slow leaks to make it seem like the farmers are buying a great used car (Steinbeck 61-62). The salesmen have to make a living so once again I understand why they did it, but they are still taking advantage of the farmers who don't know any better. The car salesmen and the banks are both basically screwing the farmers over, if you pardon my language. But because the salesmen are real people and aren't just a generic 'monster' like the banks, it feels like they are treating the farmers the worst. The car story is more personal because everyone has met some sort of salesman and can relate to the story more, as opposed to a big corporation that send out their bidding to innocent people who are just doing it for the money.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.