The Grapes of Wrath: Why do we still read this book?

We still read this book because of how timeless and important the message is to the history of the United States. The Great Depression is a time in our history that we can not forget because if we do not forget it, then it can not happen again. This book illustrates for the reader one of the worst times in American history and it can help the reader understand how the people felt and what they endured during this time. The characters in this book are timeless because of what they endure and the feelings that we feel for them. The reader feels like they are with the characters and try to understand the misery. The message of this book is very important to the reader also. The message is that we should never give up no matter what kind of trouble we are in. Perseverance is what can make a person who they are and can get them out of some sticky situations. The characters know that they could go hungry and starve to death but they do not because of how determined they are to get to California for jobs so they can buy food(Steinbeck, Chapter 4). They know what must get done to survive and they are aware of the risk that they are taking by leaving the land that they know to go to a place that is new and they do not know what will be there when they arrive.

The Grapes of Wrath is a book that I think will always be read because of the significance of the Great Depression. It is also appropriate for high schoolers and college aged students to read it because they say that we are the future and we have to know what happened and how it happened so that we can make sure that it does not happen again. The Great Depression is the opposite of the American dream. It is not prosperous and it is not the reason why people want to come to our wonderful country. We have to know our flaws so we can learn from our mistakes.

Steinbeck, John, and Robert J. DeMott. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 1992. Print.