The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck, published in 1939. It tells the story of the Joad family, who are forced to leave their farm in Oklahoma and travel to California during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. The Joads, along with thousands of other "Okies," are driven from their homes by drought, economic hardship, and changes in agriculture. They travel west, hoping to find work in California's booming agricultural industry.
The novel follows the Joads as they make their way to California, encountering numerous challenges along the way. They struggle with hunger, illness, and the harsh realities of life on the road. Despite these hardships, they remain united and determined to find a better life in California.
As they journey west, the Joads encounter other families in similar circumstances, and they begin to see the bigger picture: they are not alone in their struggles, and they are part of a larger movement of people who are being displaced and mistreated. The novel is a powerful portrayal of the struggles and resilience of ordinary people during a time of great economic hardship, and it serves as a poignant commentary on the human cost of social and economic change.