The
most engaging chapter for me from the book for today is chapter seven. This
chapter is all about a car salesman and what is going through his mind during
the rough economic times. The reason I was I enjoyed this chapter the most is
because I work on cars and as a hobby I like to buy and sell used cars.
Although, I do not try to pull one over on people like this salesman does in
this chapter but I have met quite a few “wheeler dealers” with the same mindset
of this man. The theme I see that is important in this chapter is the fact that
some people take advantage of others who are in times of need. This is
important because the Joads are going to have to be aware of the dangers and
untrustworthy people they may come across.
The
best passage from the sections for today is in chapter 13. “Tom broke in
irritably, “Well, you ain’t never gonna know. Casy tries to tell ya an’ you
jest ast the same thing over. I seen fellas like you before. You ain’t askin’
nothin’; you’re jus’ singin’ a kinda song. ‘What we comin’ to?’ You don’ wanta
know. Country’s movin’ aroun’, goin’ places. They’s folks dyin’ all aroun’. Maybe
you’ll die pretty soon, but you won’t know nothin’. I seen too many fellas like
you. You don’t want to know nothin’. Just sing yourself to sleep with a song- ‘What
we comin’ to?’” After this Tom goes on to explain that the man at the gas
station himself will be moving on. The reason I like this passage is because it
gives the feeling of the pain folks during this time are going through. The
pain is so severe that people have to go into denial and shelter themselves
from the truth. It is sad.
I like this passage too. It shows how they cannot believe what is happening right in front of them.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to chapter 7 as well, I've been around cars and car dealerships all my life and I know a good salesman, an honest sales man, from a lying and sketchy salesman with their fake pitches and sketchy motives.
ReplyDeleteits sad to think that in terrible times people will still squeeze every drop of dollar out of you. like they tried here.
ReplyDeleteWow excellent thoughts and excerpts here! How easy it must have been back then for someone with the upper hand take advantage of the unfortunate position of others! So sad but true. I really truly feel for those people. The car salesman, (not all but I'm sure more than a had full), acted like vultures just hovering above waiting to feed on the desperation of others. This grieves me to see brother turned against brother in such a way as this. But, on the contrary in chapter 15, I love to see Ma Joad define herself as one who isn't going to "join in with the bandwagon" and show no mercy and milk all that she can get out of people but instead she treats others as she would want to be treated. Respectfully and fairly, acting out the golden rule.
ReplyDeleteI do also find this chapter engaging. It gives us insight to not only some car dealers at the time, but we can infer that other business people during this time may also act the same way.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way that you compared this chapter to your own life. I think that really helps the reader understand because they are able to relate to the problems at hand.
ReplyDeleteI also like this passage. I mean if you were in that position wouldn't you do everything you could to support your family even if it meant taking advantage of others? Just a thought. I don't know if I could hurt someone else just to help myself...
ReplyDelete