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5. What is Steinbeck's purpose in presenting the scene in which the tractor goes through the dooryard of the tenants' house?

User Rindra
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Answer:

The scene in which the tractor goes through the dooryard of the tenants' house in John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" serves multiple purposes.

One purpose is to symbolize the destruction of traditional rural life and the displacement of farmers from their land due to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The tractor, which represents industrialization and modernity, is a powerful force that destroys the tenants' house and uproots them from their home.

Another purpose is to highlight the powerlessness of the tenants in the face of larger economic and social forces. The tenants are unable to resist the tractor and its driver, who represent the wealthy landowners and the banks that are foreclosing on their farms. The tenants are portrayed as victims of a system that values profit over human needs.

Finally, the scene also serves as a call to action, urging readers to empathize with the plight of the tenants and to work towards social and economic justice. By depicting the destruction of the tenants' house and their forced migration, Steinbeck aims to raise awareness of the injustices of the Depression-era society and to inspire readers to take action to alleviate the suffering of the poor and dispossessed.

User Doodloo
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