Free Grapes of Wrath Essays: Steinbecks Portrait of Fear :: Grapes Wrath essays

depiction of Fear in The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck shows throughout The Grapes of Wrath that mankind is panic-struck of failure. Although that fear is present in both the desperate migrant workers and the big, pitiless land owners, Steinbeck uses Al Joads character to his full advantage t deterrent example this characteristic of man. Als personal fear of failure motivates him to do sound in life in comparison to his male role models, as well as to help support the family. This is conveyed through Als sense of responsibility to his family, his elaborated nature, and his dogged and defensive behavior.             Als sense of responsibility to his family is a major(ip) division in his determination not to fail. His knowledge and operation of automobiles are Als major contri unlession to the family He might be a musking goat some metres, but this was his responsibility, this truck, its running, and its maintenance...And everyone resp ected him and his responsibility (Steinbeck, pages 131 and 132). Al not only helps the family succeed in getting to California by taking on this responsibility, he overly makes up for other(a) areas of his character in which he feels he is weakness or lacking. Such an area of character might be his quietness towards letting his family know his whereabouts when he disappears for days at a time in Oklahoma.             Als fretfulnessful nature is another obvious sign that he does not want to fail. He feels that precaution is the only way to keep something from going wrong and ultimately failing. This is visible in his meticulous motorcare of the truck Al grew tense over the wheel. A little go had developed in the engine. He speeded up and the rattle increased...Al blew his horn and pulled the car to the side of the road (page 225). Als care, though obvious only in that of the truck, definitely suggests that should he fail to proper ly maintain the truck, he would fail himself and his family as well. To offset such an event, Al constantly watches for and prevents any possible problems with the truck.             Als moody and defensive behavior is also a strong example of his resultant role not to fail. Although his attitude could be attributed to adolescent arrogance, one who examines Als character dissolve see that he has more pressure placed upon him than most of the other members of the family.