Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck uses symbolism to enrich his writing. Several of these symbols can be found in his book, The Grapes of Wrath. The Joads, a family from Oklahoma, are in search of a better life. They leave their home on a journey to California because bankers seizing their land kick them out. The symbols in the book are the dust, the turtle, the grapes, and especially the names of the characters. These symbols give the reader an additional perspective of the book.Dust represents life and death. Dust makes a mess of things and leaves possessions under a mucky film. The farming in Oklahoma becomes difficult because the heavy winds uplift the soil and carry it great distances. The farmers are then left with no soil to grow their crops. The Joad familys livelihood depends on the soil, and if the soil is rich, it will feed hundreds. But if the soil is dry, it destroys crops and causes famine. The dust covers Oklahoma and leaves the Joad family with no other choice but to move.The Joads journey to California is as slow as a turtle. Heat in the desert, car problems, and the deaths of the grandparents make the journey long and painful. A turtle shelters himself by pulling his head, legs, and tail inside his shell. The Joads gather together as a family to comfort and shelter themselves. A turtle feels safe when it enters his shell and the Joads feel safe when they gather as a family. Grapes are the fruit of the vine, something sweet. But in the harsh reality for the Joads, they are a disappointment. The Joads talk about them as being this wonderful fruit that will bring them a better life. They will pick the grapes and earn money. But as they stare at the open fields they realize that it is all just a dream. There are no grapes. They continuously think of the grapes as an escape from their depression. The grapes would be so fruitful that they would be able to bathe in the sweetness, but in th...
