Semester TWO, Blog #10

Do you believe that the Grapes of Wrath successfully establishes sympathy for the plight of Dust Bowl farmers? Why or why not?

Sympathy is such a weak word. It simply means that it demonstrate a feeling that never carries actions. The Grapes of Wrath describes a feeling of sorrow and inspiration. Chapter 14 captured my attention, it was the only chapter were I completely fell in love with John Steinbeck. The Dust Bowl is a mere attempt to provoke sorrow for readers. All my teammates hate the book, because it never completely carries it's message right trough. So does Grapes of Wrath successfully establishes sympathy for the plight of Dust Bowl? NO! It never even gets close. The only feeling it has provoke, or trigger is frustration. The book is full of ideas that need to be understood. It is an American Literature because it carries history and peoples story, but he needs to make it simple and easy to get the point across. I love the book, it is very interesting, but it will never be attracted to students because it never successfully establishes a relation with the reader.