Essay #2

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is the face of the Great Depression.  This is a devastating novel about loss and struggle that occurred in our nation less than a century ago.  Many of our family members survived this terrible era in history, fortunately.  After reading this novel I felt nothing but appreciation for my family, health, and home.  These emotions in myself alone prove exactly what attitudes Steinbeck is trying to modify.  The author writes about the struggles of the past so we can appreciate our present and future.

One quotes that stood out to me the most was, "The fields were fruitful, and starving men moved on the roads."  This quote caught my attention because it sounds heartless and ridiculous.  There's fields of food for everyone, yet many starve because they can't afford to feed themselves.  This to me is devastating.  Reading this alone has made me so much more grateful for what I have ,which I feel was Steinbeck's point for writing this novel.  It taught his audience a life-long lesson using an important era in history.

In conclusion, along with teaching me about history, John Steinbeck taught me to appreciate my blessings.  Anything can happen at any moment and life may become difficult for me and my family .  Learning about how people survived the Great Depression showed me how the small stuff truly doesn't matter.