The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck; it tells a story about the struggles of migrant farmers during the Great Depression. The book tells a story about the Joad's, the main family in the book, struggle during these tough times. In the book many of the characters change due to the troubles that they experience. .
In the opening of the story Steinbeck sets the mood by explaining the scenery and the mood of the people around. We then meet Tom Joad who hitchhikes his way home. Tom tells the truck driver he was just released from the state penitentiary for being charged with homicide. Once the trucker drops him off he runs into Jim Casy. He used to be a preacher when Tom was a little boy. Tom asks Jim to go with him to his house, and he says he will. When they get to the Joad's house, it is deserted, and there is a bulldozer there knocking everything down on the property. The driver of the bulldozer is their neighbor. He tells them that the bank ran them off the property and the family is at Uncle John's house. The neighbor also tells him that the Joads are preparing to leave for California in search of work. They camp out and then walk to Uncle John's place in the morning.
When Tom and Jim arrive, everyone is preparing for the trip to California. The family is happy that Tom is back. Jim asks if he can go along with them on their trip, and they agree. They have to sell all of their belongings to get money for the trip. Granpa gets second thoughts before they leave and decides he is going to stay. Ma drugs him and they carry him to the car. The first night they stay by the Wilson's. Their car has broken down and the Joads offer to fix it. That night Granpa dies, and they have to burry him themselves because they do not have enough money to pay to report it.
The Joads and the Wilsons then decide to travel together. Their car breaks down again, and Sairy Wilson becomes ill and cannot continue.