The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck, published in 1939. It tells the story of the Joad family, a family of tenant farmers from Oklahoma who are forced to leave their home due to the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. The Joads travel to California in search of a better life, but instead find a world of exploitation and poverty.
The novel begins with the Joads packing up their belongings and leaving their home in Oklahoma. They are forced to leave due to the Dust Bowl, a period of severe dust storms that caused massive ecological and agricultural damage in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Joads are joined by other families who are also leaving their homes in search of a better life.
The Joads travel to California, where they find a world of exploitation and poverty. The landowners in California are not interested in helping the migrants, and instead take advantage of them by paying them low wages and providing them with substandard living conditions. The Joads are forced to live in a government camp, where they are treated like second-class citizens.
The Joads struggle to make ends meet, and eventually find work picking fruit in the fields. Despite their hard work, they are still exploited by the landowners and are unable to make enough money to support their family. The Joads are also faced with the hostility of the local people, who resent the migrants for taking their jobs.
The novel follows the Joads as they struggle to survive in their new environment. They are faced with numerous hardships, including illness, death, and the constant threat of eviction. Despite these hardships, the Joads remain resilient and determined to make a better life for themselves.
The novel ends with the Joads leaving the government camp and heading out into the unknown. They are determined to make a better life for themselves, and to find a place where they can be accepted and respected. The novel is a powerful and moving story of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.