A person's life may be influenced by the time in which he lives in. Two primary examples of this theme are the literary works by John Steinbeck and Ayn Rand, The Grapes of Wrath and Anthem, respectively. During the periods of time where both novels took place in there were societies that have enormous gaps in social influence. They each portray characters of superiority and inferiority over and in comparison to others. Through the analysis of each book, it's evident that the period in which they lived in had great affects on the characters.
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that exposes the desperate conditions under which the migratory farm families of America during the 1930's lived. It serves as an excellent example of the deterioration of social unity because one of its main topics of controversy is the class struggle between the rich and the poor. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck consistently focuses on the treatment of the migrant farmers. During many occasions, the Joad Family is put to the test, and it's apparent that them, along with the other poor people, fail to come close in social power to any character that isn't poor. .
The novel tells of ones family's migration west to California through the great economic depression of the 1930's. The Joad family had to abandon their home and their livelihoods. They had to uproot and set adrift because tractors were rapidly industrializing their farms. The bank took possession of their land because the owners could not pay off their loan. The novel shows how the Joad family deals with moving to California. How they survive the cruelty of the landowners that take advantage of them, their poverty and willingness to work. .
The opening chapter paints a vivid picture of the situation facing the drought-stricken farmers of Oklahoma. Dust is described a covering everything, smothering the life out of anything that wants to grow.