Grapes of Wrath- ch. 1-4

In chapter one its talking about the wet spring turning dry, and vegetation is emerging. They were hoping for rain but only got a few drops. There was a bad wind/dirt storm that occurred, leaving day seem night, with a red sun as the wind blew. It blew the corn so it leaned sideways. They had to wear handkerchiefs over their noses when they went out and goggles for their eyes. The wind finally died down and it took two days for the dust to settle on the Earth like a blanket. Families gathered outside, but the fathers said they'd be alright, so the children went back to playing and the women went back into their houses while the men sat on the porch with sticks and little rocks thinking and figuring about what to do next.

In chapter two there is a truck driver at a cafe talking with a waitress. There is a man across the street sitting on the truck drivers running board, waiting for him to come out. It seems like the waitress and truck driver date by the way they talk and act around each other. I can't tell if the man outside is poor, or if he needs a ride from the driver. He is a hitch-hiker that kind of tricked the truck driver into lending him a ride. He isn't supposed to let anyone ride with him because of company rules. I wonder where the hitch-hiker is going and why. I wonder how he's dressed so nice if he doesn't even have enough money for a type of transportation. The hitch-hiker grew up on a farm and his name is Tom Joad and so is his fathers name. He is very open and has nothing to hide so far. The truck driver learns that Joad was in prison for killing a guy, right before he dropped him off at his corner, which made the truck driver a little uneasy. Joad got out early for good behavior.

In chapter three it talked of a turtle. I think it did this metaphorically. I think is symbolizes the lives of people, how they need other people and how bad things can come their way when they mean no harm. I think it also means that even life's little journeys can be hard but effect the lives of many people/things you come into contact with.

In chapter four Joad started walking and he spotted a turtle that he picked up and took with him. It was a very hot day, and when he was walking along he saw a tree producing shade, when he got closer there was a man underneath and it turns out it was his old preacher. They sat talking and the preacher admitted his new belief which was "it's all men an' all women we love; maybe that's the Holy Sperit- the human sperit- the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever'body's a part of." He killed a guy with a shovel when they were drunk at a dance after the guy stabbed him with a knife. Joad explained that he missed the jail a little because of the regular food, a place to sleep, and the people. Joad explained how they cut a house in half and stole one half and drug it with twelve horses and two mules to the land they live on now and they were going to take both, but another guy stole the other half before they could get it. Joad told stories of his uncle John and his father to pass the time also. When they reached his house, he said something wasn't the same, they think nobody's there anymore.