Grapes Of Wrath Vs Great Gatsby Research Paper

Yining Feng
Mr. Tatnall
English 11
4/17/2014
The Grapes of Wrath V.S. The Great Gatsby The Grapes of Wrath and the Great Gatsby depict the American society in the twentieth century from contrary perspectives. The Great Gatsby unveils the extravagance and apathy of the upper class based on Jay Gatsby’s tragedy. On the other side, the Grapes of Wrath reveals the poverty and humanity of the migrant farmers according to the experience of the Joads family. However, these two novels both interpret the theme of American Dream in the same way. The Great Gatsby exposes the sumptuousness of the upper class in the Roaring Twenties. “In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars…repairing the ravages of the night before.” (Fitzgerald, 39) Gatsby’s luxury party is the direct evidence for his fortune. Gatsby is so rich that no expense seems to be spared to make his party a success. Nevertheless, his wealth is obtained by means of bootlegging. “By 1926 the
sale of alcohol in the United States was estimated to be worth $3.6 billion, making many bootleggers, or people involved in the illegal manufacture and trade of alcohol, millionaires.”(“Roaring Twenties: 1919-29.”) Gatsby is only an epitome of numerous millionaires who are bootleggers. This prevailing social condition is a proof of the corruption in the society. People’s obsession with materialism leads to the widespread ignorance of morality among the upper class.
The Grapes of Wrath discloses the penury of the migrant farmers due to the Dust Bowl. The lower class suffers severely from the mass destruction of the Dust Bowl. “Men stood by their fences and looked at the ruined corn, drying fast now, only a little green showing through the film of dust.”(Steinbeck, 3) The farmers are deprived of their ample harvests. Even worse, the farmers feel helpless against such a disaster. “Three dollars a day. I got damn sick of creeping for my dinner——and not getting it. I got a wife and kids. We got to eat. Three dollars a day, and it comes every day.” (Steinbeck, 37) Many farmers express their dissatisfaction with their low wages. They complain that their income is too meager to feed their families. Many farmers’ families live in straitened circumstances. The Great Gatsby illustrates the apathy of rich people, whereas the Grapes of Wrath portrays the humanitarianism of the Joads family. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy——they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” (Fitzgerald, 179) Neither Tom nor Daisy shows up at Gatsby’s funeral. Even though it is Daisy whom Gatsby died for, Daisy chooses to avoid going to Gatsby’s funeral. Unsympathetic towards Gatsby’s death, Tom disdains to attend Gatsby’s funeral. Tom and Daisy exemplify the uncaring upper-class people. In contrast to the icy upper-class people, the lower- class people possess much more compassion. “Rose of Sharon loosened one side of the blanket and bared her breast…Her hand moved behind his head and supported it.” (Steinbeck, 455) Encountering a starving man and a bony boy, the Joads family does not hesitate to save them. Ma Joad persuades Rose of Sharon to breastfeed the starving man solely with an encouraging look. Following Ma Joad’s intention, Rose of Sharon firmly makes a sacrifice for the starving man’s life. Her altruistic behavior renders her a perfect model of humanity. Regardless of the risk of engaging in bootlegging business, Jay Gatsby sets his heart on pursuing Daisy.
Notwithstanding, Daisy is not as ideal as Gatsby imagines. “There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams——not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion.” (Fitzgerald, 95) Gatsby’s American Dream is blemished by Daisy’s flaws. Daisy is a shallow and greedy woman who marries Tom because of her avarice for wealth. Furthermore, Daisy discards Gatsby after she is confirmed in Gatsby’s identity as a bootlegger. Daisy is certainly not worth Gatsby’s pursuing. “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.” (Fitzgerald, 180) The closer Gatsby approaches to his dream, the more disappointing he finds his dream actually is. Gatsby’s American Dream is destined to vanish but Gatsby’s courage of his convictions casts glory on his American
Dream. Similarly, migrant farmers like the Joads family persist in migrating to California despite receiving warning of the recessionary economy of California. Being positive about the conditions in California, many migrant farmers cherish a dream of living a comfortable life in California. “She’s a nice country. But she was stole a long time ago…But you can’t have none of that lan’. That’s a Lan’ and Cattle Company. An’ if they don’t want ta work her, she ain’t gonna git worked.” (Steinbeck, 205) The crisis situation of California falls short of the farmers’ expectation. The harsh conditions of poverty still exist for most migrant farmers even after they moved to California. Although California is surely a fertile land for planting crops, the land cannot yield any crop without the farmers’ careful cultivation. Therefore, the farmers have to devote arduous labor to gather a harvest. In addition, since California is other landowners’ property, the migrant farmers cannot benefit from any of the farming land in California. As a result, a migrant farmer is ordained to have a life full of hardship and toil. “The last clear definite function of man——muscles aching to work, minds aching to create beyond the single need——this is man.”(Steinbeck, 150) Enduring suffering and privation, the migrant farmers retain their unbending spirit. Upholding their faith in American Dream, the migrant farmers are determined to overcome all the obstacles in spite of facing the disillusioned reality. The migrant farmers’ dogged resolution plays a significant role in bringing the farmers closer to their American Dream. The Grapes of Wrath and the Great Gatsby give the panorama of the American society in the twentieth century. The Great Gatsby accentuates the essence of American Dream besides uncovering the dissolute life of the upper class. On the other hand, the Grapes of Wrath highlights the determination of the lower class to achieve their American Dream while suggesting their austere life. These two novels imply opposite circumstances of the society, yet they both advocate American Dream.

Work Cited
Fitzgerald, Scott. F. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 1925. Print.
“Roaring Twenties: 1919-29.” Fashion, Costume, and Culture: Clothing, Headwear, Body Decorations, and Footwear through the Ages. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol 4: Modern World Part I: 1900-1945. Detroit: UXL, 2004. 721-724. Gale Virtual Reference Library. 6 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ndhs.org/s/1012/images/editor_documents/library/gale_virtual_reference_library_-_document_-_roaring_twenties__1919_29.pdf>

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck centennial ed. New York: Penguin Books, 2002. Print.