The end of the Grapes of Wrath was an interesting ending.I myself did not expect a end with some sort of hope but a disastrous one.What did you guys expect to see?
I personally felt that the ending of this book was not necessarily going to be hopeful, but as well more of a devastating one with at least the slightest hint of having some hope. Although it did end with Rose of Sharon breastfeeding the old man for his sake, i felt that Steinbeck was reflecting on the actions she took upon the situation knowing she was able to provide life with the sense of hope still. Even after the saddening fact that she had given birth to a stillborn baby.
I for one, wasn't expecting to see hope. I looked for an ending that was of some kind of tragedy. The fact that Rose of Sharon breast fed the old man was disturbing. Like Brian had said in class, it was as if she was trying to compensate for her lost baby, and that was my initial reaction after I had finished reading it. Once I gave it more thought, I realized that Rose of Sharon was not trying to replace her baby, but giving life to someone who was in need through an a selfless act. It read in the book that an old man couldn't start over, only a baby could. That quote stuck when I read the ending. The baby's death had given an old man a chance to "start over".
Janeth I agree to a certain degree with your point that the baby's death gave the old man a chance to "start over" but you can make the argument that she is compensating for her child because up until the end she doesn't, in my own view, change at all. Seeing this old man in the barn what made her help this guy at the end?
Brian, I think you can find some backing for your idea if you were to further research the psychology of a mom who loses a child in this way. How about attributing an outside source? Her act may seem odd to some, but I feel that Steinbeck is not only sending us a message but touching upon an innate, maternal instinct.
Mrs. Ross would it be alright if I researched that over the week because it would be interesting to see how the thought process of a mom who has lost her child would cause such a dramatic change from focused solely on herself and her child to instantly without argument giving of herself to a complete stranger.
I also agree with Janeth based on other books I read from Steinbeck that had a tragic ending, But seeing the ending in a different point of views can influence a persons opinion.For example concentrating on the death of the baby alludes a tragic ending, while focusing on Rose of Sharon saving the life of the man gives the reader a ray of hope.
I personally felt that the ending of this book was not necessarily going to be hopeful, but as well more of a devastating one with at least the slightest hint of having some hope. Although it did end with Rose of Sharon breastfeeding the old man for his sake, i felt that Steinbeck was reflecting on the actions she took upon the situation knowing she was able to provide life with the sense of hope still. Even after the saddening fact that she had given birth to a stillborn baby.
ReplyDeleteI for one, wasn't expecting to see hope. I looked for an ending that was of some kind of tragedy. The fact that Rose of Sharon breast fed the old man was disturbing. Like Brian had said in class, it was as if she was trying to compensate for her lost baby, and that was my initial reaction after I had finished reading it. Once I gave it more thought, I realized that Rose of Sharon was not trying to replace her baby, but giving life to someone who was in need through an a selfless act. It read in the book that an old man couldn't start over, only a baby could. That quote stuck when I read the ending. The baby's death had given an old man a chance to "start over".
ReplyDeleteJaneth I agree to a certain degree with your point that the baby's death gave the old man a chance to "start over" but you can make the argument that she is compensating for her child because up until the end she doesn't, in my own view, change at all. Seeing this old man in the barn what made her help this guy at the end?
ReplyDeleteBrian, I think you can find some backing for your idea if you were to further research the psychology of a mom who loses a child in this way. How about attributing an outside source? Her act may seem odd to some, but I feel that Steinbeck is not only sending us a message but touching upon an innate, maternal instinct.
DeleteMrs. Ross would it be alright if I researched that over the week because it would be interesting to see how the thought process of a mom who has lost her child would cause such a dramatic change from focused solely on herself and her child to instantly without argument giving of herself to a complete stranger.
DeleteI also agree with Janeth based on other books I read from Steinbeck that had a tragic ending, But seeing the ending in a different point of views can influence a persons opinion.For example concentrating on the death of the baby alludes a tragic ending, while focusing on Rose of Sharon saving the life of the man gives the reader a ray of hope.
ReplyDeleteI like your reasoning but then in your opinion what should the reader focus upon? How should we look at these two scenes?
DeleteIn my opinion Steinbeck choose to let the reader decide what to focus on.
ReplyDelete