Type of Work: Social / political criticism Setting Oklahoma and California; 1930s Principal Characters Tod Joad, a recent parolee in his mid-twenties Ma and Pa Joad, a strong, middle-aged Oklahoma couple Noah Joad, their strange eldest son Al, their wild sixteen-year-old Rose of Sharon, eldest Joad daughter, married and pregnant Gramma and Grampa Joad, an earthy old couple Jim Casy, a preacher and, later, a labor agitator Other Joad children Story Overview As Tom Joad hitchhiked …showed first 75 words of 1762 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1762 total…can be argued that even through all of the appallingly harsh events the load family endures, the book promotes optimism; a "milk-of-human-kindness" theme; a journey from "drought and despair" that ends in "water and hope." Though capricious nature - and human nature can not always be depended upon to alleviate human misery, Rose's act of mercy symbolizes the need for all of us to develop within ourselves a genuine responsibility and compassion for each other.