Grapes of Wrath Chapter 5 Key Quotes

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Questions and Answers

Which quote demonstrates the influence of big business and thus alienation from the land?

The owners of the land came onto the land, or more often a spokesman for the owners came.

Which quote demonstrates the existence of a fixed social hierarchy dependent on material wealth?

...at last the owner men drove into the dooryards and sat in their cars to talk out of the windows.

Which quote demonstrates the close affinity the tenants have with the land, contrasting the distance of the owners?

...corn headed children.

Which quote demonstrates the powerlessness of those who are apparently in positions of power?

And all of them [the owners] were caught in something larger than themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the extent of the corruption of the bureaucracy, due to the ceaseless drive for material wealth?

The Bank - or the Company - needs-wants-insists-must have... Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the evolution of the holders of power?

...they were men and slaves, while the banks were machines and masters... Signup and view all the answers

Which repetition in this section of the chapter connects to Casy's meditations of the previous chapter?

...God knows. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates a hopeless desire for institutional growth in a world which is devoid of growth?

When the monster stops growing, it dies. It can't stay one size. Signup and view all the answers

What technique does Steinbeck use to perpetuate the impersonal nature of industry?

Reported Speech. No speech marks are used, and so this 'conversation' is a general one, not exclusive to this situation. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the naturally violent nature of ownership?

...he had to kill the Indians and drive them away. And Pa was born here, and he killed weeds and snakes. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the enveloping nature of the bank, to submerge all things?

Then a bad year came and he had to borrow a little money...And Pa had to borrow money. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the perpetuation of false hope?

Why don't you go on West to California? There's work there, and it never gets cold. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the unstoppable intensity of industry?

...puttering while they stood idle; they thundered when they moved, and then settled down to a droning roar. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the indiscriminate nature of industry?

...across the country, through fences, through dooryards, in and out of gullies in straight lines. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the loss of humanity for those involved in the machine of industry?

...goggled him and muzzled him-goggled his mind, muzzled his speech, goggled his perception, muzzled his protest. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote contrasts the theme of chapter one; the crucial nature of agriculture?

If the young thrusting plant withered in drought or drowned in a flood of rain, it was no more to the driver than to the tractor. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates a degree of resistance to this process, as if it is distinctly unnatural?

...orgasms set by gears, raping methodically, raping without passion. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote introduces the notion of theft?

Men ate what they had not raised...The land bore under iron, and under iron gradually died. Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the degree to which the driver has become part of the system?

...Spam, a piece of pie branded like an engine part. Signup and view all the answers

What during the chapter demonstrates the obsession with material wealth for survival?

The repetition of 'Three dollars a day, and it comes every day.' Signup and view all the answers

Which quote demonstrates the extent of the destruction of industry upon the lives of the Oklahoman people?

The iron guard bit into the house-corner...wrenched the little house from its foundation so that it fell sideways. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Big business alienates individuals from their land, evident in the use of representatives of landowners instead of personal engagement.
A visible social hierarchy is depicted through wealthy owners who conduct conversations from the luxury of their cars, illustrating the gap between classes.

Connection to the Land and Power Dynamics

Tenants possess a deep connection to the land, symbolized by the phrase "corn headed children," contrasting with the physical and emotional distance of landowners.
The powerlessness of landowners is highlighted as they are trapped in a system larger than individual ambition, suggesting a collective loss of autonomy.

Corruption of Bureaucracy and Materialism

The relentless pursuit of wealth corrupts bureaucracy, with institutions like banks depicted as insatiable entities demanding more resources.
A shift in power dynamics is illustrated where human beings become slaves to machines and banks, demonstrating the dehumanization by industrial forces.

Themes of Hope and Industrial Growth

A sense of hopelessness prevails with the phrase "God knows," reflecting on the minimal impact of human efforts against the backdrop of societal challenges.
The metaphor of a growing monster captures the idea that industries must expand continuously; stagnation leads to decline.

Techniques Reflecting Industrial Impersonality

Reported speech is employed to convey conversations lacking individual identity, emphasizing the depersonalized nature of industrial dialogues.
The intrinsic violence of ownership is portrayed through historical references to displacement and destruction of indigenous peoples, framing ownership as inherently aggressive.

Financial Struggles and False Promises

The narrative reveals how financial hardship drives individuals to borrow, illustrating a cycle of dependency and loss of agency once a bad year hits.
False hope is perpetuated with promises of work in California, symbolizing the desperate yet misguided aspirations of the masses.

Industrial Machine and Its Impact

The relentless and overpowering force of industry is captured with descriptions of machinery that exhibits both a thunderous presence and a relentless hum, reflecting its tireless nature.
The indiscriminate nature of industrial expansion cuts through barriers, reflecting a relentless pursuit disregarding human boundaries.

Loss of Humanity and Connection to Nature

The dehumanizing effects of industrialization are illustrated as individuals' minds and voices are both muffled and distorted by the machinery around them.
A commentary on agriculture highlights the disconnect from the natural world; the welfare of crops becomes irrelevant to drivers, reducing living plants to mere commodities.

Resistance to Industrialization

Resistance to industrial forces is illustrated through mechanical imagery that suggests violation and detachment from natural rhythms, indicating a conflict between humanity and machine.
The act of theft emerges as a theme, emphasizing how the labor of individuals is taken without recognition or reward, leading to an erosion of the land itself.

The Role of Industry in Modern Survival

The driver’s identity becomes fused with industrial progress, exemplified by the processed product "Spam," indicating a reliance on manufactured goods rather than natural sustenance.
An obsession with material wealth is evident with repeated emphasis on daily earnings, revealing a societal shift where individual financial sustenance eclipses community welfare.

Destruction Wrought by Industrial Forces

The extent of destruction is vividly described through imagery of mechanical forces ripping homes from their foundations, symbolizing the broader devastation experienced by the Oklahoman people in the face of industrial advancement.

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Description

Test your understanding of Chapter 5 from 'The Grapes of Wrath' with these flashcards highlighting key quotes. Explore themes such as the influence of big business and social hierarchy as depicted in the text. Perfect for students looking to deepen their analysis of Steinbeck's work.