Chapter 2 begins near a roadside restaurant where the main character, Joad, is introduced, clean cut, and straight from prison. Joad catches sight of an Oklahoma transport truck and asks for a ride ignoring the sticker on the truck that says “No riders”. After being rejected by the driver, Joad quickly manipulates the driver to believe that he is being controlled by a corporation. The truck driver agrees to giving Joad a ride. In the truck, the driver examines Joad, questioning him and bickering on about past encounters he has had with other people. The drivers persistent need for conversation leads me to believe he is desperate for interaction, especially because truck drivers are constantly on the road alone. In addition, I believe the mention of bugs in chapter 2 has a connection to human struggle. For instance, the flies stuck on the screen of the restaurant door desperately trying to escape may represent farmers and the obstacle they face with their inability to grow crops.
Tom was very good at manipulating the trucker like you said. I thought it was interesting how easily people will budge in order to prove to themselves--and others--that they are "good."
ReplyDeleteYeah I also felt the trucker was in need of human interaction. He also probably accepted Tom's request, because he wanted company. The trucker pouring out his life goals to the taciturn Tom, shows how lonely he was.
ReplyDeleteThe lonesome trucker had become interested in that Tom Joad's life after he noticed that Tom didn't want to open up much about his life. I believe that this was a healthy opportunity that he had taken and it made him much more sociable.
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