The Joad’s leave that night traveling south to a government
camp that they heard about. Luckily, when they reach thir destination, there
is only one spot left. In the morning, Tom leaves with two people he met at
the camp and gets a job digging ditches for pipes. Their employer warns them
that some people are going to cause trouble in the camp at the dance on Saturday
in attempt to break up the camp. The residents at the camp were ready for
them and the attempt was unsuccessful in breaking up the camp.
Work runs out by the government camp so the Joad’s have
to move on looking for work.
Review:
These chapters show a further decline of the Joad family structure. Pa feels
that he is no longer worthy of being the head of the family and Rose of Sharon
seems to have become mentally unstable. The only mainstay of the family appears
to be Ma Joad.
The government camp is a heavenly change from what the Joads have experienced
thus far and provides some hope for these desperate times.
The chapters also describe the problems that exist between the local small
farmers and the large landowners who can control prices and monopolize the
industry.
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