The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck describes how Oklahoma's economic situation affected families in the 1940s, through the Joad family. Tom Joad, a man who has been released from prison, returns home to find that his family's house is abandoned. Along with a former priest, Jim Casey, and a neighbor, Muley Graves, Tom learns that the banks have evicted almost all the farmers in the area. The three men visit Tom's family, only to discover that they are leaving the state and going to California to find better jobs. Tom, however, is not allowed to leave the state, as he is still on parole. The Great Depression had a huge impact on farmers, who were forced to leave their homes to find better-paying jobs. Poverty plays an important role in people's lives and sometimes forces us to do things we shouldn't do. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essayTom Joad is a very easy-going man. Although he spent four years in prison for homicide, he is very carefree and accepts situations easily. Tom's family is very supportive, even after his release from prison. It is clear to him that his family is leaving and he does not want to be without them. Tom is willing to risk his freedom to be with his family and help them build a life in California. This is a clear example of how poverty affects people; Tom doesn't care about the consequences of leaving the state, if he can provide for his family. His entire household is gathered together and they invest everything they have earned in the journey. When people live in poverty, there's a good chance they'll leave everything behind to find a better life, and what the Joad family is doing carries significant risk. Tom's mother mentions her fear of leaving because there are no guarantees of secure, well-paying jobs in California. Even Tom's grandfather refuses to leave, but the family forces him to. Walking away into the unknown is terrifying, because they don't know what awaits them there. The Joad family risks everything to move to a better place. Although they are unsure of what will happen next, they accept the possibilities and leave together. Unaware of parole, Tom could get into even more trouble with the law, but nevertheless continues to leave with his family. This clearly confirms the behavior of people when they are poor. They recognize the danger of what they are doing, but they continue because they must try to change the situation. People have always been encouraged to take big risks to transform their lives, so it would be unfair to judge the Joad family. Events like this affect everyone differently, and this is how the Joad family decided to handle the situation. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. Penguin books, 1939.