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.