Exploitation from "summary" of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Exploitation is a pervasive force that permeates the world of The Grapes of Wrath, shaping the lives of its characters and the society they inhabit. It is a cruel and insidious practice, perpetuated by those in power who seek to exploit the vulnerable for their own gain. The Joad family, along with countless other farmers and migrant workers, are victims of this exploitation, as they are driven from their land and forced to eke out a living in a hostile and unforgiving world. The exploitation of the Joads begins with the banks, who foreclose on their land and leave them destitute. The banks care little for the families they dispossess, viewing them only as numbers on a ledger rather than as human beings with hopes and dreams. The Joads are left with no choice but to join the ranks of the migrant workers, who are also exploited by the large landowners and agricultural corporations. The migrant workers are paid meager wages for backbreaking labor, forced to toil in the fields under harsh conditions while the wealthy landowners grow fat off their labor. The workers are treated as disposable commodities, easily replaced when they become too sick or injured to work. The landowners have no qualms about exploiting the workers, viewing them as nothing more than a means to an end. The exploitation of the migrant workers extends beyond the fields, as they are also taken advantage of by unscrupulous merchants and landowners who charge exorbitant prices for basic necessities. The workers are trapped in a cycle of poverty, unable to escape the clutches of those who seek to exploit them at every turn. Their struggle for survival is made all the more difficult by the forces of exploitation that conspire against them. Despite the pervasive nature of exploitation in The Grapes of Wrath, there are moments of resistance and solidarity among the workers. They come together to fight for their rights and demand fair treatment from those who seek to exploit them. These moments of solidarity offer a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak and oppressive world, showing that even in the face of exploitation, there is strength in unity and collective action.
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