one of the funniest (worst) analyses ive read of grapes of wrath was that despite it being extraordinary anti-capitalist, pro labor union, pro working class...this one analysis writer thought that a scene where someone chokes a baby turtle is a metaphor for "communism's chokehold". yeah good job genius. why would it not represent the chokehold of capitalism????????
I've never read the whole thing myself (I know, I know), but I do know it was banned in multiple parts of the country for being "communist propaganda", so it's probably worth reading.
Here's another good quote from the book:
The land fell into fewer hands, the number of dispossessed increased, and every effort of the great owners was directed at repression. The money was spent for arms, for gas to protect the great holdings, and spies were sent to catch the murmuring of revolt so that it might be stamped out. The changing economy was ignored; and only means to destroy revolt were considered, while the causes of revolt went on. The tractors which throw men out of work, the machines which produce, all were increased; and more and more families scampered on the highways, looking for crumbs from the great holdings, lusting after the land beside the roads. The great owners formed associations for protection and they met to discuss ways to intimidate, to kill, to gas. And always they were in fear of a principal – three hundred thousand – if they ever move under a leader – the end. Three hundred thousand, hungry and miserable; if they ever know themselves, the land will be theirs and all the gas, all the rifles in the world won’t stop them.
The movie was protested by the Catholic Church, if you ever have a chance to watch it, do so. It doesn't have nearly the same level of misery as the book, but seeing it depicted on film in black and white by actors who all like lived through that time period is its own level of immersion.
I've realized in retrospect that my English teacher was a comrade. The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, and a bunch of other stuff. He even said on the first day of class that he wanted us to "focus on the idea of the American Dream". Possibly the only thing we read that year that wasn't critical of capitalism was The Scarlet Letter.
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one of the funniest (worst) analyses ive read of grapes of wrath was that despite it being extraordinary anti-capitalist, pro labor union, pro working class...this one analysis writer thought that a scene where someone chokes a baby turtle is a metaphor for "communism's chokehold". yeah good job genius. why would it not represent the chokehold of capitalism????????
deleted by creator
I've never read the whole thing myself (I know, I know), but I do know it was banned in multiple parts of the country for being "communist propaganda", so it's probably worth reading.
Here's another good quote from the book:
The movie was protested by the Catholic Church, if you ever have a chance to watch it, do so. It doesn't have nearly the same level of misery as the book, but seeing it depicted on film in black and white by actors who all like lived through that time period is its own level of immersion.
I've realized in retrospect that my English teacher was a comrade. The Grapes of Wrath, The Jungle, and a bunch of other stuff. He even said on the first day of class that he wanted us to "focus on the idea of the American Dream". Possibly the only thing we read that year that wasn't critical of capitalism was The Scarlet Letter.
deleted by creator