GOW+Chapter+19

Focus questions

CH 19-Per 4 Commentary 1
 * In the capitalist based society where immigrants and the poor class are forced to compete for mere survival tension greatly increases between society.**

commentary 2

"They imported slaves, although they did not call them slaves: Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans, Filipinos. They live on rice and beans, the businessmen said. They don't need much. They wouldn't know what to do with good wages. Why, look how they live. Why, look what they eat. And if they get funny---deport them."
 * Quote**

Steinbeck uses a threatening sort of tone to show how powerful the Americans felt and to show how badly the foreigners were suppressed.
 * Use of Language**

The American dominating class uses foreigners to do a lot of work for little money. The US is able to suppress them by giving them the little money and threatening their existence in the US, which is how they can keep their control.
 * Discussion**

"The kids are hungry. We got no place to live. Like ants scurrying for work, for food, and most of all for land."
 * Quote**

The simile used to compare the struggling class with ants shows how oppressed they were and how little of importance they were given. They were seen as only a tiny part of society
 * Use of Language**

Because they are so desperate for land, the struggling class must take whatever is available for them. In order to survive this challenge, the struggling class has to worry only for themselves.
 * Discussion**

"The owners hated them. And in the towns, the storekeepers hated them because they had no money to spend. There is no shorter path to a storekeeper's contempt, and all his admirations are exactly opposite. The town men, little bankers, hated Okies because there was nothing to gain from them. They had nothing. And the laboring peple hated Okies because a hungry man must work, and if he must work, if he has to work, the wage payer automatically gives him less for his work; and then no one can get more."
 * Quote**

The sentence variety within this long paragraph show how complex the relationships within society were.
 * Use of Language**

Here we can see how the struggling classes fight to remain on the level they are currently on because they feel like they can go to a lower level, where even the poor will look down on them. No wealth is trickling down causing the entire pyramid to be lowered. Therefore, no one gets to gain any wealth.
 * Discussion**

"**We** got to keep these here people down or **they'll** take the country. **They'll** take the country. Outlanders, foreigners."
 * Quote**

By choosing the specific words //we// and //they// separations are established between different groups. //We// immediately refers to the police and they to outlanders and foreigners but the police represent the entire dominating class who doesn't have to compete for jobs, food, and shelter and the outlanders and foreigners represent the struggling class.
 * Use of Language**

//We// is used to show that in order for the dominating class to not compete for jobs, food, and shelter they must combine against classes subordinate to them in order to not be in their same situation. Although, through a more general view the dominating class does compete with the struggling class because in order for them to continue being comfortable economically they must continuosly supress the struggling class. Who do you think should be collaborating against who?
 * Discussion**

"Got to keep 'em in line or Christ only knows what they'll do! Why, Jesus, they're as **dangerous as niggers in the South**! If they ever get together there ain't nothin' that'll stop 'em."
 * Quote**

Alluding to the emancipation of slaves in the US, slaves are meant to symbolize the struggling class and the white people are meant to symbolize the dominating class. By alluding to this event in history the relationship between the two groups is shown almost as a war and definitely as a competition between the two.
 * Use of Language**

Two ideas are refered to from this allusion. Just as the slaves were extremely supressed for many years the struggling class was also supressed. Slaves were supressed by the government and the dominating class (white people), was the struggling class supressed by the government and/or the dominating class? This allusion also refers to a possible result for the dominating class. The white men during slavery eventually stopped supressing the slaves until they got out of hand which could happen to the dominating class with the struggling class if they don't continually supress them.
 * Discussion**

“Our people are good people;our people are kind people. **Pray God** some day kind people won't all be poor. **Pray God** some day a kid can eat. And the association of owners knew that some day the praying would stop.”
 * Quote**

Repeating //pray God//, the situation of the struggling class reveals how desperate they feel. When their most crucial needs cannot even be met, such as starving children they turn to the most powerful solution possible.
 * Use of Language**

By asking for help for survival from somebody so distant this repetition shows how it is not the men who are being looked upon for help but God. By stating that the people will eventually step praying either the people will lose hope or their prayers will be answered and again the question is brought up, how long will it take for the men to break and the struggling class they respresent?
 * Discussion**

commentary 4

CChapin ABasurto Per 3