Earlier in the book, John Steinbeck dedicates chapter 3 to a turtle. So much details about some turtle, I thought it might symbolize something, so I kept it in mind. Later on in the book, I think I have made a good guess to what this little guy represents! He represents the Joad Family. Think about it, the turtle is described as a brave, unstoppable animal in chapter 3 and 6. That's everything the Joad family is during their road trip from Oklahoma to California. Plus in chapter 6, it mentions which direction the turtle started to walk away in, southwest. Just like the turtle, the Joad family also travels west to California.
Do you guys think the turtle symbolizes anything?
I agree with you on the fact that the turtle might symbolize the Joad family.The family goes through a lot of hard circumstances through the book but they still manage to over come them no matter how hard it is on them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you both. I think the turtle does symbolize the Joad family. They do go through a lot but they overcome it together because if you do things with your family anything is possible in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree ! I had not thought about that until you pointed it out !
ReplyDeleteIn Steinbeck book he tells the story of humanity working together. The turtle could represent all the migrants moving from the east to the west not just the Joad family. Most of all migrating farmers have the same story.
ReplyDeleteI just relies when tom picked up the turtle is a fore shadow when the Joads meet the Wilsons.
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ReplyDeleteI would also have to agree with you on how the turtle may symbolize. Now that you have pointed this out I have viewed chapters 3 and 6 with more meaning.
Although the turtle did accurately represent the Joad family, I do not think that Steinbeck meant for it to symbolize just that family. I think it was meant to describe all of the migrants going west. They are all fighting to survive. They all want to surpass this difficult time period. Inclusively, they are all looking for work.
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