Final answer:
In 'The Grapes of Wrath,' the Joad family is planning to travel from Oklahoma to California due to the hardships of the Dust Bowl, seeking a better life and reflecting on the strength of community.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characters in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath are planning to travel from their drought-stricken farm in Oklahoma to the state of California in search of a better life. This journey is motivated by the severe conditions of the Dust Bowl, which ravaged their farm and livelihood, prompting them to seek new opportunities out West. Throughout the story, the struggles and the concept of community and family values are deeply explored, as the characters face and adapt to the hardships of their migration.
The larger social movement communism is mentioned as a means to bettering the lives of all people, reflecting the novel's emphasis on collective struggle and the shared hardships of the community. Their journey is propelled by hope for improved living conditions and the strength found in unity, as evidenced by Tom Joad's poignant reflection on the shared human soul.