Automobiles in The Grapes of Wrath

Automobiles play an important role in The Grapes of Wrath. They were just as important to the many people who embarked on the arduous journey to California. Having a car was a necessity when it came to transporting a family, along with all of their earthly possessions, across the country. A car is a valuable tool, but it could just as easily turn a family's luck and become a burden. Breakdowns are practically inevitable; parts can be costly. Paying for gas money is literally unavoidable. Squeezing the Joads into a car does not make for a comfortable journey either.

The type of car a family drove was significant. A faulty used car could break down constantly, or the engine could blow up and leave the family stranded. Having some technical automobile knowledge was invaluable. A family could repair their own cars. Moreover, a person who knows about cars is able to choose the right vehicle to purchase, while knowing if it was in good condition. A car can also reveal a family's socioeconomic status to the world. Cars are a normal part of our lives today, but they were invaluable, and sometimes burdensome, to the people who migrated to California. This exhibit frames the significance of automobiles within the context of The Grapes of Wrath.