The Grapes of Wrath question 3

3. Some of the many universal themes in this book are as follows; sacrifice, suffering, grief and family struggles. In the book the Joad family has to make many sacrifices. They have to leave their friends and their home, all for one little pamphlet that says they need work in California. The family has to go without food for long periods of time, go without good shelter; they have to use most of their money just to pay their way to California. Many times they argue about what they are going to do. Who should do what, who can leave, and who has to stay with the family. They lose many of their close relatives and friends. Sometimes they have to be mean to get what they want. Everyone had to make sacrifices. The kids gave up toys and pets and friends, the adults gave up their home, money and careers all to set out on this crazy journey to California. I think Steinbeck understands that we all make sacrifices at one time or another and that we all have grief and sorrow. He knows that we can relate to them because we know how they feel. Even though most of us have never had to go through something that harsh and difficult, he knows we can all see a little bit of ourselves in the characters of the book. He knows we will take pity on them because they are going through so much. Another universal theme is your own morals. In the book many of the characters struggle with what they have done or what they are doing. Uncle John struggles with what he did to his wife a long time ago, and Rose of Sharon worries about her baby and what is going to happen to it. Through the book all of the themes pull at the family, but most of the time they stay together. And most of the time they stay strong.