The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck describes how the economic situation in Oklahoma affected families in the 1940s, through the Joad family. Tom Joad, a man released from prison, returns home to find his family's house abandoned. Together with a former priest, Jim Casey, and neighbor Muley Graves, Tom discovers that the banks have evicted almost all the farmers in the area. The three men go to visit Tom's family, only to find that they are leaving the state and going to California to find better jobs. Tom, however, is not allowed to leave the state, as he is still on parole. The Great Depression had a huge impact on farmers, as they were forced to leave their homes to find better-paying jobs. Poverty plays an important role in people's lives and sometimes forces us to do things we shouldn't. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Tom Joad is a very easygoing man. Despite spending four years in prison for murder, he is very carefree and easily accepts situations. Tom's family is very supportive of him, even after his release from prison. It is clear to him that his family is leaving and he does not want to be without them. Tom is willing to risk his freedom to be with his family and help them build a life in California. This is a clear example of how poverty affects people; Tom doesn't care about the consequences of leaving the state if he can support his family. His whole family is reunited and invests everything he earned on the trip. When people live in poverty, there is a great chance that they will leave everything behind to find a better life, and what the Joad family is doing carries substantial risk. Tom's mother mentions her fear of leaving because there is no guarantee of secure, well-paying jobs in California. Tom's grandfather also refuses to leave, but the family forces him. Walking away into the unknown is terrifying, because they don't know what awaits them there. The Joad family risks everything to move to a better place. Although they are uncertain about what will happen next, they accept the possibilities and leave together. By ignoring parole, Tom could face further trouble with the law, but proceeds with his family anyway. This is a clear confirmation of how poor people behave. They recognize the danger of what they are doing, but they continue because they need to try to change the situation. People have always been encouraged to take big risks to transform their lives, so judging the Joad family would be unfair. Events like this affect everyone differently, and that's how the Joad family has decided to handle it. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The grapes of wrath. Penguin books, 1939.