Examples Of Breaking In The Grapes Of Wrath

Throughout the entire novel of John Steinbeck's “The Grapes of Wrath” many observations of “breaking” can be seen. From breaking of the characters will to carry on, such as the story about Toms curious uncle who couldn’t handle losing the one thing that I believe that was keeping the poor man going through all these tough times. Adding on top of the stress from all the loss of farmland, increasing debts and other such challenges John, Toms cousin, wouldn't listen to a call for help from his wife when she had pains in her stomach. When the loss of John’s wife came about you could see in the story he was telling that John’s character and wit had been destroyed with the loss, broken if you will.
Another example of this breaking is the breaking
of these gender roles and statuses. Like in chapter 10 when Casy helps Ma Joad salt the meats, even though it was called to be “women’s work”. This is not only showing Casey's true character and how he really is a thoughtful soul who cares for other’s well being, but it shows that these “roles” given to men and women could be broken. That the family would not necessarily be completely done for if the father figure didn't make it or like in how Toms neighbor's case, where Muley Graves was staying behind to watch over the farm. But, in many cases loosing this male figure in the ordinary lifestyle of that time is usually the beginning domino that sparks the breaking of a full family.
Finally, there’s breaking of the community. One of the largest examples I can think of is towards chapter 5 with the neighbors working for this monster in hopes that it would not consume them alongside the houses they were having to destroy, to just maybe feed their children another day. This breaking of the comradery between neighbors is detrimental to any thoughts of rebelling against this faceless monster that no-one can seem to face.