Setting
In the first chapter, it opens with the description of the earth, and the tole the lack of rain is taking on the land. Steinbeck speaks of the red country and gray country; as the rain ceases to pour, the world turns pale, colorless, and overall dull. The red country became a pinker color, and the gray country became a whiter color. I thought this symbolized the fact that the earth couldn't take the beating of the weather for much longer; it would soon become lifeless and uninhabitable--that it was losing the fight against the harsh climate.
Corn
Steinbeck also tells of the earth drying, crusting, and cracking, as the rains continue to hide, and how the dust begins to take their place; moreover, the dust begins to harm the crops that the farmers were growing. "The wind raced faster over the land...the corn fought the wind with its weakened leaves until the roots were freed by the prying winds," (page 4). This quote demonstrates the effect that the wind and dust had on the crops, and the environment overall. The corn, a big cash crop, was a major part of farming in Oklahoma, so the fact that it was dying was, in a way, showing how difficult survival would be for every living thing that was part of this ecosystem--both human and nonhuman.
The farmers would not be able to make a living for they had no crops to sell or eat, and most of the wildlife would have to adapt to a dryer, less luscious state of life. This was my interpretation of what the corn symbolized. Do you agree, or disagree? I would love to hear your interpretations!
I agree with your post, Pablo. In my journal I talked about the earth drying up as well, I saw it as a bad omen. I had no idea that the corn was a big cash cop in Oklahoma back then, but that could be seen as a bad omen as well. In my journal I also talked about how the harsh setting of the dust bowl, caused the farmers and their families to huddle up inside their homes.
ReplyDeleteYes, I totally agree on the idea that it was a bad omen. It could be considered, in a sense, foreshadowing to the people having to flee due to the harsh conditions. I also really enjoyed the fact that the people all sought to create this facade of resilience, even in the face of all the turmoil, and I think they did so to show their families that it was going to be okay. They were trying to say they would get through it, just like the countless times they had before.
DeleteI completely agree with you Pablo about the bad weather symbolizing that the earth would soon become lifeless and uninhabited, however in my journal I thought that the bad weather symbolizes that people are not doing what needs to be done to keep the earth well and healthy.
ReplyDeleteI thought the corn symbolized the people. The reason I thought this is because when people think they are doing good something bad could happen and bring them down and in the story the corn is first shown as growing but then the wind starts to come and destroys the crops and everything else around.
I completely agree with you Pablo about the bad weather symbolizing that the earth would soon become lifeless and uninhabited, however in my journal I thought that the bad weather symbolizes that people are not doing what needs to be done to keep the earth well and healthy.
ReplyDeleteI thought the corn symbolized the people. The reason I thought this is because when people think they are doing good something bad could happen and bring them down and in the story the corn is first shown as growing but then the wind starts to come and destroys the crops and everything else around.
Oh, I think I understand what you mean. That overworking the land seemed like a good idea at first, because people could grow the best cash crops, but in the long run it's more harmful than good. They received initial profits, but the land will then be unable to be cultivated, completely ruining the environment. So basically, they're making their own doom inevitable.
DeleteI totally agree with you. As the months went on the bad weather progressively got worse causing harm to the environment and everything in it. I believe this could be foreshadowing the harsh conditions becoming unbearable and forcing people to leave their homes.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with all of you guys in this matter. What I wrote in my journal piece was the fact that everything seemed to be gentle and delightful but slowly transformed into a corrupted country. The cause of such destruction was revealed while reading Chapter 1 as Steinbeck explained that horses and automobiles would wind up dust into the atmosphere causing people to begin using masks in order to cover themselves up from the contaminated air. These problems then led to crops being destroyed, mainly, corn as Ms.Ross explained was a "big cash crop". For sure, I definetley see a forshadow on the idea of leaving the premises.
ReplyDeleteOh, my bad Pablo, I thought Ms.Ross posted that :S
DeleteOh, my bad Pablo, I thought Ms.Ross posted that :S
DeleteI can agree with all of you guys in this matter. What I wrote in my journal piece was the fact that everything seemed to be gentle and delightful but slowly transformed into a corrupted country. The cause of such destruction was revealed while reading Chapter 1 as Steinbeck explained that horses and automobiles would wind up dust into the atmosphere causing people to begin using masks in order to cover themselves up from the contaminated air. These problems then led to crops being destroyed, mainly, corn as Ms.Ross explained was a "big cash crop". For sure, I definetley see a forshadow on the idea of leaving the premises.
ReplyDelete