A theme consistent through out Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is almost a conflict, that of man versus man. It is more of an explanation though of of how everything ended up the way it did. How the struggles of the farmers was not from the drought but the actions, thoughts, and beliefs that were throw at the farmers from the land owners and people of California caused the outcome of this huge struggle. The way the people within the story treated each other may be the main cause of distress every character felt. This caused unnecessary and mean responses, words, and actions. Another strong theme that arose toward the middle and latter half of the novel is the force that two people are better than a single person, ten is better than fifteen, thirty is better than twenty, especially in forms of families. As troubles began to become worse within the families, they began to realize that the troubles of a single person were nothing in comparison if spread out over a group of people. Families of farmers began to bind themselves together, bond together, and worked to fight together(Steinbeck 253). John Steinbeck knows it is human nature to be selfish. The land owners in both Oklahoma and in California show selfishness as do the migrant farmers likely because of near starvation and having everything taken away. Families are selfish to others because it is simply human nature to want to defend what is yours and your life. But, like Ma Joad displayed, it is also human nature to be selfless for the good of others and not just oneself. She was the example of both ends of selfish and selfless human nature. Steinbeck showed that it is human nature to not easily look beyond yourself, but defend yourself and your thoughts and your beliefs and simply your right to live. Humans are compassionate, yes, but when put in dire circumstances, it is easy to not see the needs of others but only yours.
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.
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