Steinbeck's phrase 'they had gone through pain and come out on the other side' exemplifies the resilience of the human spirit and the development of community in the face of hardship, as portrayed in 'The Grapes of Wrath'.
When Steinbeck writes, “they had gone through pain and come out on the other side,” he is referring to the durability and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Characters like the Joad family in The Grapes of Wrath endure great suffering and hardship, but they emerge stronger, having discovered a profound sense of community and shared purpose. This passage underscores Steinbeck's belief in the collective human experience and the notion that through struggle, people can achieve a greater understanding of themselves and society.
In The Grapes of Wrath, the journey through pain represents both a literal and figurative transformation. The Joads, and others like them, realize that they are part of something larger than themselves; this leads them to see the value in communal efforts over individual struggle. The pain is not just a trial but also a pathway to enlightenment and solidarity.