The Grapes of Wrath and American Dirt - Tales of Voyaging Families

   The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is considered a classic American novel written right after the end of The Great Depression and just preceding the beginning of World War II. It is known for the story surrounding the disenfranchised and exploited group of people most effected by The Great Depression. American Dirt written by Jeanine Cummins, is a 2020 New York Times Bestselling novel that shares similar themes with the latter characters except it is based off of those from Mexico, and Central and South America seeking refuge in the United States. 

   Once cannot read both books and not see the cross assimilation in the way poor people and migrants are viewed and treated. After some research into both writers' inspiration for their stories, it only reaffirmed my belief in their similarities when reading of their ideas coming from notes and stories taken from those witnessing or experiencing these particular hardships first hand. It is particularly important for novels such as these to be published because they allow the common reader who may not know or go out of their way to study these current/past events a chance to witness and experience these stories "firsthand" if only in their imagination. How will someone be able to truly understand the needs of others without the full picture? If we do not see the "bigger picture" is it easy for the average person to blow it off as some struggle that every person gets hit with in this life. It is only upon reading and looking closer that we see it is a systemic problem within both respective countries that contribute to problems such as these. Both novels speak very much to the current climate of their day in that Steinbeck's book was written shortly after its occurrence and Cummins' story takes place during the era of the Trump Administration. In her story it shows the reality of government neglecting people on both sides of the border which contributes to the overall mayhem. 

    It is also essential and important to note that both characters from respective novels are migrants. One may be born and bred in "America" and traveling from state to state - but their journey is no less arduous than those crossing from Mexico in the other story. Our agricultural workers today are usually those from Central/South America and Mexico. The stories cross between each other even more today in the reality of our border crisis and the experience and harrowing journeys of those crossing other country lines to even reach the southern tip of the country. Death, hunger, hard work, and perseverance despite the odds, are all struggles both characters from the novels go through. It is important to note that it is not a fantasy created by the writer but a collection of the recollections of others formed into one overall story. When thinking about this and the events that happen in the stories, we are able to see a common theme of human suffering across race and other societal boundaries. The death of the characters' entire family in Cummins' book and the death of life as they knew it,Tom Joad, and Grandpa in Steinbeck's novel all emphasize the characters forced migratory circumstances and not something that was willfully done or imposed as the media and other stories tends to describe migrants as being. It is the story of the human race in its most dire conditions and how those who help - even in the seemingly most minute ways - are like a cup of fresh water for those who are forced to fight for their lives.