Throughout the history of literature, few authors have captivated audiences like John Steinbeck. Some of his most famous works like The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men are known for his use of realistic dialogue to convey his thoughts on the Great Depression. This dialogue indicates that the author believes, no matter how hard they try, members of the proletarian class could not achieve their American Dream. During the novel The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses his characters to show that the Great Depression was filled with hardships for the proletarians consequently limiting their ability to prosper. One example is when, in chapter one, an unnamed man trying to knock down a house says “There is nothing I can do. I’ll lose my job if I don’t do it” (The Grapes of Wrath 45). If this man chooses to destroy a house, he is destroying a family’s dream, but if he does not, his own children may starve. By destroying another man’s hopes and dreams, he is preserving his own. Another example of this is when Tom, regarding Uncle John’s small home, says “He only has one room and a cookin leanto” (The Grapes of Wrath 87). This is a blunt description of life in the Great Depression for the proletarian class. Many people were reduced to living in cramped, one room homes. These quotes show that the characters, due to their low wages and unfair treatment, …show more content…
They were abused and undervalued because there were more workers than there were jobs. With the abundance of workers, the upper class need not pay sufficient wages to provide basic necessities let alone prosper during the Great Depression. Throughout The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck uses realistic dialogue to show his belief that the proletarian class will struggle for mediocrity and hence will have no chance of realizing their American