I think the future of the Joad's will be a rough road, but with saying that I also think that things can only get that much worse before they get better. In my idealistic fantasy the family will all find each other and live happily ever after. The realistic side of me thinks that the family has been broken apart and every one will take there separate paths. That's the point of Steinbeck leaving the ending ambiguous it's up to the reader to project the future of the family we have been on a long journey with. I think the ending of the book left me a little underwhelmed, because I expected for there be some kind of resolve. But I think that the ending with Rose of Sharon and the old man is a metaphor for the the entire book it just wasn't blatant. With the death of her child she is giving life to the man which illustrates the theme of the life cycle and survival.
I think there were countless lessons to be learned throughout the novel that can be applied to today's society. One of them being the importance of the treatment of our nations citizens. The novel highlights an abundance of issues that are still reflected in todays society; poverty, government vs. citizen relations, and violence. The true test of a book is if it transcends its time and is relevant years later. This book is a teaching tool because we should take this book as a warning to not repeat all of the issues highlighted in the book.
I have to agree with your idealistic fantasy how they will live happily ever after but again everything doesn't happen like that so I believe too that the family will go there separate ways but I was also a little disappointed with the ending.
ReplyDeleteI really like your interpretation about the end of the book being the theme of the life cycle and survival. I guess I kind of looked at it narrow-minded but seeing it that way makes me look at it in a bigger way.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of disappointed in the ending of the book. I didn't like how at the end of the book there was no conclusion and you don't know how the family ends up. I found it very aggravating. I do agree though that there are a lot of lessons that can be learned from this book. I feel like everyone should read this book because it would help them really appreciate what they have and their life situations.
ReplyDeleteI think they have seen enough hardship in their journey. They need some joy and hope in their lives. The ending satisfied a little bit of this need but not much. They just keep getting beat down and they stand back up but they lose a little of their old selves everyday.
ReplyDeleteThings will get better for the Joads i know it because they have gone through a lot already and they'll go through more maybe but they'll fight it again together as a family. I was disappointed by the ending but novels in general don't end well so i wasn't surprised by it much.
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