Jonathan HernandezMarch 24, 2014Hist-215-003Professor Kane Journey Through the DustThere are few novels that have the ability to shed light on historical context and simultaneously tell a captivating story. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck does a great job of telling a fascinating story and juxtaposing the historical importance of the time period. Set during the great catastrophe of the 1930s, Steinbeck wrote this evolutionary tale to inform Americans across the country about the hardships faced by those left destitute by the natural disaster. Although the subject of the novel is the social and economic climate of America during the Dust Bowl, Steinbeck described several themes to illustrate the true impact of the incident. The garbage has not only left thousands of people homeless, hungry, and poor, but has also altered the social dynamic of the United States. Family dynamics changed, new prejudices developed, and religion became more widespread. Through themes of race, religion, gender, and class Steinbeck immerses the reader in the time of the great dust bowl. The reader becomes a destitute farmer of the 1930s, trying to support his family in any way possible. One of the themes Steinbeck discusses is race. Although the dust bowl affected a large number of American farmers, those who migrated west were mostly Caucasian farmers. However, there are some examples of racial tension in the novel that prove significant. The theme of race is not so much an overarching topic compared to the other themes of the novel. The theme of race is mostly visible in the discussions between the characters. Steinbeck subtly inserted the issue of race into his characters' dialogue. A perfect example of this is found...... in the center of the card...... e. Do you think any of us would live like that?” Migrant farmers weren't even considered Americans; they were seen as foreigners and second-class citizens. The economic inequality that developed during the 1930s not only left thousands of Americans in poverty, but also created a wide divide in America's class structure. The Grapes of Wrath is a classic of American literature that provides an in-depth analysis of the great dust bowl. . The author, John Steinbeck, illustrated the daily life of a migrant farmer from the perspective of the Joad family. Describing many important motifs, Steinbeck illustrates the many social and economic transformations that America experienced in the 1930s. These themes include race, religion, gender, and class. The changes that occurred during this period forever changed the American way of life.