Saturday, June 25, 2016
Chapter Seven
The purpose of this chapter was to give a metaphorical example of the baffled people, including the Joads, that are in need of a car. “People are wandering in, bewildered, needing a car.” ( Steinbeck, 1939, pg.64). This quote demonstrates the desperate need of a car which gives cruel salesmen the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the sharecroppers. The sharecroppers are aware of the poor conditions the cars are in but have no choice but take it. The car salesman talks in a staccato rhythm making him seem in control. There is confidence in the salesman because of his fast talking and repetition. Those bewildered represent the Joads and the other families who aren’t sure what their future holds. To include, the salesman is a metaphor for the people that will take advantage of the Joads as they travel to California.
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I agree with you Reyna. The salesmen did take advantage of an opportunity they had to sell cars. Especially since there were many families that needed a car.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the salesmen new that the sharecroppers had no choice but to take the car, even in a high price. This was unfair, especially for those big families that really needed the extra money for the trip to California.
DeleteYes Roxana I agree, it was really unfair.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with you Reyna, the salesmen took advantage of the people looking to buy a car. They knew the families desperately needed a car, so they sold the cars at high prices.they did not care about the families, only about making money.
ReplyDeleteYes Goodness the salesman was very cruel.
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ReplyDeleteAnother thing I noticed, was that the salesman was using the tenant's morality. "Get 'em under obligation. Make 'em take up your time. Don't let 'em forget they're takin' your time. People are nice, mostly. They hate to put you out. Make 'em put you out, an' then sock it to 'em," (Steinbeck, p. 42, 1939). He's using their idea of "good" against them. They don't want to be an inconvenience, and they want to be perceived as good people, so they are being made to feel that if they buy the car, they will be helping, and are "good."
ReplyDeleteThis same idea was present in the second chapter of the novel. Tom used the Trucker's morality against him, and manipulated the trucker for his own gain. I think it was just another way of showing how easily "good" and "bad" can be twisted. You can change someone's perception of what they think makes them good or bad.
I agree with you. The salesmen are being unfair by taking advantage of families and the situations they are in.
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