Chapters 16 - 19, Assignment H

     In John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath, he tries to make every small aspect of the book intertwine with the bigger picture of the book as a whole. This is very evident when you compare the microcosm point of view in Chapter 16 to the macrocosm point of view from Chapter 17. 

     Chapter 16 is written in a microcosm point of view, meaning that it is basically focusing singularly on the Joad family along with the Wilsons. It tells the story of the never ending troubles that these two families must endure. The most notable adversity they face is when the Wilson's car begins to rattle and they find out that it has broken down yet again. When Tom proposes that the rest of the family continue on the California so that he and Casy can stay behind and repair and the catch up later, Ma aggressively interjects. She threatens to beat anyone up with a jack handle that tries to convince her otherwise. 

     Chapter 17 is written in a macrocosm point of view, meaning that it is focusing on the mass of the migrants as whole. The chapter chronicles how several migrant communities emerge on the side of the highway as a result of the mass exodus. These communities are described as several large families comprised of smaller families that have settled together. They establish their own unwritten laws, social etiquette, and moral behaviors. They include sharing food with the hungry and knowing ones place on the social ladder. Failure to comply by these statutes can lead to violent confrontations and banishment from the communities.   

     Chapter 16 and 17 are both related because they help establish the lives of the migrants in their personal point of views, and their societal point of views. The microcosm of Chapter 16 serves as a way to describe the desperation for individuals to stick together in time of crisis. Ma Joad will not let anyone from the family split up because she knows that they are doomed if they do. This desire to make oneself feel secure from the presence of other people directly connects into the macrocosm of Chapter 17. Families know that the migrant camps will probably be better compared to if they were to stay independent and solitary. People want to be around other people and have a sense of someone looking out for them. This is especially true because the families willingly give up their own food and resources and follow sometimes unfair laws just to be part of a larger group. Chapter 16 implied that a family cannot split apart because the who else we look out for its members. Chapter 17 builds upon that very idea in that people of similar backgrounds that are going through similar troubles must come together to defeat a common foe and try to make the most of the situation, even if it means living with certain injustices.