Steinbeck Critical Analysis When John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath the United States was amidst the Great Depression. ... To appeal to these victims of the Depression, Steinbeck contained highly socialistic characters and themes that are frequently revealed throughout the novel. ... Domestically, however, a new awareness of the cost of this growth became a widespread theme in such works of literature as Stephen Crane's A girl of the Streets and Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. ...

• Word Count: 1670
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School