October 29, 1929 is a day that changed the economic and societal outlook of the United States and the rest of the world. The ensuing years, more aptly named “The Great Depression” led to the loss of tax revenue, a decrease in trade, and the shuttering of many companies. At this time, the United States saw an unemployment rate of 25%. To put it gently, the Global Economy looked grim and the forecast for the future wasn’t any brighter. Making matters worse, the Dust Bowl took its toll on the Midwest, damaging the ecological landscape of the country and further perpetuating the economic struggles of the people. Farmers were losing their land and migrant workers faced diminishing job opportunities, leading people to move further west with the promise of farming and governmental work. It was in John Steinbeck’s, The Grapes of Wrath that the trials and tribulations of the American farmers and migrant workers came to life. Steinbeck uses the struggle of the migrant workers in The Grapes of Wrath to stress the importance of family and community. As people faced The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl, it was the community that became the crutch that carried them through these trying times. Our first glimpse of humanity comes as soon as Tom Joad, whom is recently paroled is trying to make his way home. With no means of transportation, Joad hitchhikes his way back to his father’s farm. Armed with a “No Riders” sign, however Joad was able to appeal to the good nature of the driver and convince him that he was a better man than the sign he was forced carry perceived him to be. The driver updates Joad on the dire situation of the community, overshadowing the unfortunate selfishness that has become all too necessary as families look out for their own. In Joad’s travels back home, he encounters his former preacher, Jim Casey and an old friend, Muley Graves. Both these men embody the idea of community and reiterate the struggles of thei