The Grapes of Wrath Criminality Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

[Tom Joad:] "Oh, awright. You eat regular, an' get clean clothes, and there's places to take a bath. It's pretty nice some ways. Makes it hard not havin' no women […] They was a guy paroled," he said. "'Bout a month he's back for breakin' parole. A guy ast him why he bust this parole. 'Well, hell,' he says. 'They got no conveniences at my old man's place. Got no 'lectric lights, got no shower baths. There ain't no books, an' the food's lousy.'" (4.67)

Wow. Prison sounds glorious compared to the dismal places that the Joads must live. In fact, it almost seems like Weedpatch.

Quote #2

[Tom Joad:] "He says it makes him feel lonesome out there in the open havin' to think what to do next. So he stole a car an' come back." (4.67)

Freedom can make you lonely. Routine drives loneliness away.

Quote #3

[a tenant farmer:] "But where does it stop? Who can we shoot? I don't aim to starve to death before I kill the man that's starving me." (5.64)

Is murder a bad thing when the alternative is starvation?