Post on 08-Apr-2018
8/7/2019 The Grapes of Wrath- Reading Log #2
1/2
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/14/10
Ichikawa
English HonorsReading Log #2- Grapes of Wrath
Analytic
Fifty-sixty cars a folks go by ever day, folks all movin west with kids an househol
stuffMost folks stops here aint got nothin (126).
In chapter 13, the Joad family enters a service station when their ca becomes low
on fuel. As Al Joad gets out of the vehicle to purchase some gas he immediately
experiences a discrimination persisting throughout the Dust Bowl. When Al opens the
radiator cap and prepares the load the car with some gasoline, the station attendant asks if
Al has any money with him. Unfairly, the attendant suddenly came to the conclusion that
Als appearance insinuated a lack of wealth. Insulted, Al snaps back with Sure. Think
were begging? with an offended tone. Following this, the attendant apologized and
explained that most people coming in his direction are those that are poor and desperate
farmers that simply beg for gas rather than pay for it.
This chapter really introduces the struggles of farmers moving west. As the Joad
family moves out of the Dust Bowl and toward California, the land of opportunity,
countless hardships lie in their path. Al Joad is seen as a typical beggar in the eyes of a
corporate worker. Once again, Steinbeck bring about the idea of corporate business and
portrays it as the gas station amongst the poor farmers. The reader soon learns the
attendant is no more than another desperate person himself simply trying to make a
living. Like the worker running the tractor and destroying peoples homes, the service
man only sell gas to those with money because otherwise he would lose his job and
means of putting food on the table. Following this incident at the gas station, Grandpa
dies of a stroke and the family is forced to bury him along the way. On top of that, the
Joad family dog is hit by a car and also passes away. Just as the Joad family had begun
8/7/2019 The Grapes of Wrath- Reading Log #2
2/2
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/14/10
Ichikawa
English Honorstheir journey to the West toward opportunity, they immediately came face to face with
discrimination and death. It would be wrong to assume that the difficulties on the journey
to California would stop following these incidents.