In this chapter, we are introduced to Mae, a waiter at a diner on Route 66. Even though Mae isn't one of the main characters of the story, I found her quite interesting. She seems to be nice, trying get by just like everyone else. Then a tattered man enters along with two children begging for a loaf of bread. Mae refuses to sell him the bread and the man tells her that he will give her ten cents. Mae claims the bread is worth 15 cents but Al (a co-worker) tells her to sell it to him for ten. He then asks for the price of the candies and Mae lies by saying that they are two for a penny (originally five cents each). What made her have a change of heart? Did she feel guilty after refusing to give him the bread? What do you guys think?
(Keep in mind that she has no idea why all of these families are going west).
I think when Mae saw the children she may have had remorse and wanted to help the father out.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think what made Mae lie about the candy was probably she saw how rigid the boy's bodies were and how they dressed and felt remorse for them.
ReplyDeleteOr she has a weak heart against kids.
I think Mae had a change of heart because she realized the migrants weren't bad people after all like how she said before. She saw that they were just humble people begging for something to eat.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a good way that Steinbeck was able to show that people still have compassion. Because as a whole, people did not react well to the "Okies" coming into their homes and states. Although, this scene shows that there are some people that don't fit into that category. Those people understand the struggle even if they do not understand completely what is going on. I found it interesting also how the truck driver gave Mae a bigger tip than usual after the incident of Mae's heartwarming
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