JOURNAL ARTICLE

"It Is Just So": Reification in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

  • Published In: Science & Society, 2024, v. 88, n. 4. P. 610 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Browne, Paul Leduc 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of reification in John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Reification refers to the situation where human activity and its products dominate and control human beings, appearing as objective entities governed by natural laws. Steinbeck's novel portrays the effects of reification through the story of tenant farmers who are forced off their land by banks and large-scale agro-industrial exploitation. The article highlights the environmental malpractice, debt, and the dehumanizing nature of corporations in the novel. It also explores the lack of collective action and political consciousness among the farmers, as well as the resilience and resourcefulness of the Joad family. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Science & Society. 2024/10, Vol. 88, Issue 4, p610
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0036-8237
  • DOI:10.1521/siso.2024.88.4.610
  • Accession Number:180236137
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