The Grapes of Wrath
Picture Citations: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1f/JohnSteinbeck_TheGrapesOfWrath.jpg/200px-JohnSteinbeck_TheGrapesOfWrath.jpg
http://www.book-review-circle.com/images/the-grapes-of-wrath.jpg
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that takes place during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl during the 1930s. Both of these events took a great toll on those living in America at the time in terms of finance and health. People were splitting from their families, trying to learn to work together, trying to find jobs, and trying to find food. Proper health care was not at the top of their worries, for it was just a result of their ‘life-style’.
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http://www.book-review-circle.com/images/the-grapes-of-wrath.jpg
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel by John Steinbeck that takes place during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl during the 1930s. Both of these events took a great toll on those living in America at the time in terms of finance and health. People were splitting from their families, trying to learn to work together, trying to find jobs, and trying to find food. Proper health care was not at the top of their worries, for it was just a result of their ‘life-style’.
Click here to view accounts
Impact on Children
The Great Depression was a period of time that ran from the 1920s to 1930s due to a crash in the stock market resulting in many people being out of work. Not only was this going on, but at the same time an event called the Dust Bowl was taking place where agriculture became difficult for farmers due to dust storms. These events greatly affected many children living during the time period. Unemployment was above 12 million. It was almost impossible to live in farms because of the enormous amounts of dust in the air that made farming impossible and living conditions awful. It was difficult to breathe because of the thick dust floating in the air, the dust storms could cause you to have blisters on your legs and to have you legs bleed, and without a suitable way to pay for food, survival was almost impossible. Families began moving out of these areas and tried searching for new jobs. Families had to send their children to work to try to get more money. The children were malnourished and often ill because the families could not afford medical care or proper food. In Grapes of Wrath, Ma fed some other hungry kids soup, which they would probably never have again in the near future. Children were being “distributed” to people who may be able to better support the children like relatives, or they were abandoned or left to be orphans. How mentally healthy could it possibly be to be abandoned by your family at a young age? Even if times are tough, they are your family. What were these kids living with for the rest of their lives? Steinbeck continuously tries to show us in his novel that America is causing the irrational behavior of the children. For instance, in Steinbeck’s novel, a child shot a deputy who had killed his Father. Why were the deputies even harming the child’s father? It is stated that many of these children grew up to be criminals. After being raised and seeing such terrible things at a young age, these children think that doing wrong is okay. It is clear that children were having psychological damage done on them as well.
According to the accounts by those people who lived through this terrible event, countless children were left in poor physical and emotional health because of the depression. Infant mortality rate was high due to a lack of medical care. Many children did not receive medical care and disease increased. Things like a lack of proper dental care cause people to suffer tooth decay and disease at a young age for one aspect of our health will impact our overall health. The many children who were left orphaned were taken to farm areas, where they did rigorous farm work in exchange for a place to live. These children were facing physical damage along with their mental/psychological damage.
The children also had a very difficult social health. They were not able to interact well with one another because they had not been living a normal child’s life. Those in poor families struggling to survive, had children who received no toys or playtime activities. They constantly had to face things like death, starvation, and witness the abuse by people like deputies. Ruthie was a character in Steinbeck’s novel who had to leave her home behind, saw the death of her grandparents, never had any playtime, and barely got to eat. When she was finally given the opportunity to play with other kids, she didn't know how to communicate with the other kids. She only knew that she wanted to play and didn't want anybody else stopping her.
Can you imagine living during these difficult times? Struggling to survive, splitting with family, being verbally abused by people who think they're better than you because their parents have jobs, not being able to eat properly, and not having proper care for any injuries or sickness you may have? How would you feel? Would you begin to feel less? Do you think you would have become criminals or led a bad life in the end due to a bad childhood as many of these children did? What do you think about the situation in total? Should the government have had more of a hold on the situation? Do you know anything else about the situation?
Citation:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-were-the-effects-on-the-children-of-the-great-depression.htm
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Picture Citation: http://readynutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/hungry-children_cropped.jpg
According to the accounts by those people who lived through this terrible event, countless children were left in poor physical and emotional health because of the depression. Infant mortality rate was high due to a lack of medical care. Many children did not receive medical care and disease increased. Things like a lack of proper dental care cause people to suffer tooth decay and disease at a young age for one aspect of our health will impact our overall health. The many children who were left orphaned were taken to farm areas, where they did rigorous farm work in exchange for a place to live. These children were facing physical damage along with their mental/psychological damage.
The children also had a very difficult social health. They were not able to interact well with one another because they had not been living a normal child’s life. Those in poor families struggling to survive, had children who received no toys or playtime activities. They constantly had to face things like death, starvation, and witness the abuse by people like deputies. Ruthie was a character in Steinbeck’s novel who had to leave her home behind, saw the death of her grandparents, never had any playtime, and barely got to eat. When she was finally given the opportunity to play with other kids, she didn't know how to communicate with the other kids. She only knew that she wanted to play and didn't want anybody else stopping her.
Can you imagine living during these difficult times? Struggling to survive, splitting with family, being verbally abused by people who think they're better than you because their parents have jobs, not being able to eat properly, and not having proper care for any injuries or sickness you may have? How would you feel? Would you begin to feel less? Do you think you would have become criminals or led a bad life in the end due to a bad childhood as many of these children did? What do you think about the situation in total? Should the government have had more of a hold on the situation? Do you know anything else about the situation?
Citation:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-were-the-effects-on-the-children-of-the-great-depression.htm
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Picture Citation: http://readynutrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/hungry-children_cropped.jpg
Picture taken by: Dorothea Lange
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Stinging Dust and Forgotten Lives: The Dust Bowl (Drought and Dust)
This video tells us about the difficult life of those living through an event in our history called 'The Dust Bowl'. What do you think about the lives of these people? How do you think you would react to such conditions? How healthy could this have been for the people living in the Dust Bowl mentally and physically? Do you have any other reactions to this video that you would like to share?
Malnutrition and the Government's Involvement
As we read The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck during the 1930s, we often see the word malnutrition. Throughout this difficult time in America, malnutrition was one of the main causes of death among children and adults. According to the New Oxford American Dictionary, malnutrition is defined as a lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat. This is exactly what was taking place all throughout America, especially in Hoovervilles and among other minority populations. It is important to understand what causes malnutrition and how it can be treated. Factors to being malnourished include vitamin deficiency, stunted growth, skin infections, hair loss, increased illness, and even death. What causes malnutrition? The most common cause of malnutrition is improper water treatment. During the Great Depression, migrant workers were unaccessible to a clean source of water. While traveling, they often found themselves in dirty rivers cleaning themselves and even drinking the water. Children under the age of five and elders were more likely become malnourished due needs of energy for younger children and lose of appetite for elders. Because of the financial crisis ripping through America, people could not gain access to healthy quality food. People ate whatever they could, not caring about the health risks. Another major health issue during the Great Depression was the increase and spread of influenza throughout the country. Specifically in the 1930s, influenza was directly correlated to increased mortality rates. Connecting the influenza and unemployment, the few that had jobs were more likely to go to work to make money, not realizing that they were spreading their illness to other workers around them. This is the same way in which pneumonia spread throughout the country as well. Because the little amount of money that was available to the migrant workers as well as the large shortage of jobs, there was little that the migrants could do to prevent malnutrition. Who was there to help them? What did the government do to provide relief?
The government did very little to improve the health conditions of the migrant workers in the west. The Commission of Government, which was established and took power in 1934, distributed free milk and cod liver oil to families. However, this small amount of food was not enough to reduce the epidemic of malnourishment in the country. They also raised the health department’s budget, which allowed the distribution of more food and health relief programs. The main reason in which these efforts were not effective was because of two factors, widespread destitution and the harshly policed relief systems. Because of this, many families were left starving, homeless, and sick. The families with little money were sometimes able to eat at soup kitchens, however there was an insufficient amount of food to feed the thousands of families that passed through.
It is also important to recognize the main difference between the quality of health between social classes in America. The employed workers, typically the higher classes, were the healthiest among society. On the opposite side, those who had just lost their jobs and farms were the least healthy people in America. Researchers had found that illnesses were one of the reasons in which workers were laid off from jobs and they were least likely to be hired as well. This separation between the quality of the employed and the unemployed became even larger throughout the years of the Great Depression. At the beginning of the Great Depression, both the employed and the unemployed were equally likely to get sick. However, by the 1930s, the unemployed were almost twice as likely to become sick compared to the employed workers.
Citations:
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/gov_response.html
http://www.analysisonline.org/site/aoarticle_display.asp?issue_id=8&news_id=140003321&sec_id=140002434
http://readynutrition.com/resources/the-4-things-you-must-eat-to-avoid-malnutrition_20102011/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-were-the-effects-on-the-children-of-the-great-depression.htm
Ken Burns "The Dust Bowl"
Picture Citations: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/The-Great-Depression.jpg
http://drhildebrand.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Great-Depression-Soup-Line2.jpg
It is also important to recognize the main difference between the quality of health between social classes in America. The employed workers, typically the higher classes, were the healthiest among society. On the opposite side, those who had just lost their jobs and farms were the least healthy people in America. Researchers had found that illnesses were one of the reasons in which workers were laid off from jobs and they were least likely to be hired as well. This separation between the quality of the employed and the unemployed became even larger throughout the years of the Great Depression. At the beginning of the Great Depression, both the employed and the unemployed were equally likely to get sick. However, by the 1930s, the unemployed were almost twice as likely to become sick compared to the employed workers.
Citations:
http://www.heritage.nf.ca/law/gov_response.html
http://www.analysisonline.org/site/aoarticle_display.asp?issue_id=8&news_id=140003321&sec_id=140002434
http://readynutrition.com/resources/the-4-things-you-must-eat-to-avoid-malnutrition_20102011/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-were-the-effects-on-the-children-of-the-great-depression.htm
Ken Burns "The Dust Bowl"
Picture Citations: http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/The-Great-Depression.jpg
http://drhildebrand.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Great-Depression-Soup-Line2.jpg
Citation:
http://hoovervillehistory.tripod.com/adm/interstitial/remote.jpg
http://bagwellgreatdepression.wikispaces.com/file/view/hooverville.gif/60680490/392x296/hooverville.gif
http://hoovervillehistory.tripod.com/adm/interstitial/remote.jpg
http://bagwellgreatdepression.wikispaces.com/file/view/hooverville.gif/60680490/392x296/hooverville.gif
Hoovervilles in the 1930s
As the Great Depression began to take a toll on Americans across the country, many people were forced to move out of their homes and away from their farms. Where did they go? They moved into to "neighborhoods"/camps called Hoovervilles. Named after president Herber Hoover, these communities featured hundreds of run down shanties made out of glass, tar paper, cardboard, and lumber. They were constantly being rebuilt due to the instability of the shelters. Because the government gave their little resources to the sick, hungry, and homeless, the conditions of the Hoovervilles were very poor. One of the largest Hoovervilles was located in Central Park in New York City.
In 1930, the population in America was about 123 million people. 30% of the population was living in the horrible conditions in the Hoovervilles. The conditions in the Hoovervilles led to the rise and spread of diseases and illnesses. With people living very close to each other and in very dirty and germ infested shacks, there was a significant rise in the mortality of the poor and migrant workers. It is also important to keep in mind that these shacks were not built out of strong material, making their residences vulnerable to winds, rain, storms, snow, and very cold winters. Many people contracted diseases that were directly related from loss of heat in the winter as well as many other environmental deaths. Due to the emotional toll the Great Depression had on the poor, there was a significant rise in the amount of mental illnesses. Many could not get rid of the sight of dying people in the streets and the smell of death sweeping through the camps. Hoovervilles and other camps that were similar were one of the main reasons in which diseases and illnesses spread quickly throughout the United States.
Citation:
http://www.history.com/topics/hoovervilles
http://www.dailypaul.com/142243/the-conditions-in-hoovervilles-and-poorhouses-during-the-depression
In 1930, the population in America was about 123 million people. 30% of the population was living in the horrible conditions in the Hoovervilles. The conditions in the Hoovervilles led to the rise and spread of diseases and illnesses. With people living very close to each other and in very dirty and germ infested shacks, there was a significant rise in the mortality of the poor and migrant workers. It is also important to keep in mind that these shacks were not built out of strong material, making their residences vulnerable to winds, rain, storms, snow, and very cold winters. Many people contracted diseases that were directly related from loss of heat in the winter as well as many other environmental deaths. Due to the emotional toll the Great Depression had on the poor, there was a significant rise in the amount of mental illnesses. Many could not get rid of the sight of dying people in the streets and the smell of death sweeping through the camps. Hoovervilles and other camps that were similar were one of the main reasons in which diseases and illnesses spread quickly throughout the United States.
Citation:
http://www.history.com/topics/hoovervilles
http://www.dailypaul.com/142243/the-conditions-in-hoovervilles-and-poorhouses-during-the-depression
Emotional State of Migrant Workers Through Poetry
LamentBy Randolph G. Goodman
The Magpie, December 1929 v. 31, p. 37. Sweet the water-- Bitter to taste In a world submerged In a maelstrom of haste . . . Fair the sun-rays-- Dark to see From workaday deeps, Depths unhappy, unfree . . . Sweet the blossom-- Acrid to smell From an earth encrusted With the Patines of Hell . . . Fair the breezes-- Harsh to hear; Discordantly blowing, With the discord of Fear . . . Sweet this Life-- God! to feel Held tight to a Rack, Fettered fast to a Wheel . . . This is a poem by someone about the Great Depression and it's impact on people. The poet goes to discuss the emotional and physical implications of the conditions and situation during the time. What is your take on the poem? What do you think about the emotional health of the people during this time period? Learn More About The Poem! Poem Citation: http://newdeal.feri.org/magpie/docs/2912p37.htm The Great DepressionBy Adam Sears
Deep sorrow filled the americans heart Everyone had to do their part People were trading and selling their things Raving about what life would bring Even the little ones felt the pain Souls did suffer in heat, cold, and rain Sad to say theat the days filled with grief In hopes that the Depression sooned would cease On Sunday was a day of rest, everyone would gather and thank God they were blessed Not in ways that we might think, but in everyday living that life did bring Poem Citation: http://www.fmschools.org/webpages/pwebsites/index.cfm?subpage=19837 |
The Pantuom of the Great Depression
By Donald Justice
Our lives avoided tragedy Simply by going on and on, Without end and with little apparent meaning. Oh, there were storms and small catastrophes. Simply by going on and on We managed. No need for the heroic. Oh, there were storms and small catastrophes. I don't remember all the particulars. We managed. No need for the heroic. There were the usual celebrations, the usual sorrows. I don't remember all the particulars. Across the fence, the neighbors were our chorus. There were the usual celebrations, the usual sorrows Thank god no one said anything in verse. The neighbors were our only chorus, And if we suffered we kept quiet about it. At no time did anyone say anything in verse. It was the ordinary pities and fears consumed us, And if we suffered we kept quiet about it. No audience would ever know our story. It was the ordinary pities and fears consumed us. We gathered on porches; the moon rose; we were poor. What audience would ever know our story? Beyond our windows shone the actual world. We gathered on porches; the moon rose; we were poor. And time went by, drawn by slow horses. Somewhere beyond our windows shone the actual world. The Great Depression had entered our souls like fog. And time went by, drawn by slow horses. We did not ourselves know what the end was. The Great Depression had entered our souls like fog. We had our flaws, perhaps a few private virtues. But we did not ourselves know what the end was. People like us simply go on. We had our flaws, perhaps a few private virtues, But it is by blind chance only that we escape tragedy. And there is no plot in that; it is devoid of poetry. Picture Citation: http://www.fmschools.org/webpages/pwebsites/index.cfm? subpage=19837 Poem Citation: http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/pantoum-of-the-great-depression/ How do these poems relate to healthy living? Do they focus mostly on physical, social, or mental health, or maybe all three? How do these poems show the health effects of the Great Depression and the migration on the Okies? How do they emphasize the pain the Okies experience?
Click the image for the citation
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The Okies vs. The Californians: Social Tension Spreads Throughout the Nation
When the Dust Bowl struck the Great Plains during the Great Depression era, thousands of American farmers had to abandon their home country and head to California in hopes of a new life: work, land, a home, and a new start for their children. Originally, as the first wave of migrants came, a few more citizens of the state were no big deal to the natives. However, this somewhat "indifferent" attitude toward the migrants did not last long. Word spread to the rest of America's suffering farming population that work was abundant in California, and the number of Okies migrating to California increased drastically. Due to this rapid influx, tensions grew and hatred and discrimination were on the rise. Because the migrant laborers were starving and desperate, they were more than willing to work for less than the original native Californian workers, knocking them out of their jobs. Furthermore, the population of Okies swelled so much, that it grew higher than the population of actual Californians in California. This made life even easier for the owners; they could have more workers than they needed, all willing to work for as little as the owners would give them, and if they refused, there were plenty waiting to work in their place. Naturally, the Californians were outraged that these so-called "foreign" people had taken over their jobs and caused their taxes to increase. The Californians came to look down upon the migrants as savage, barbaric, inhuman creatures in an attempt to justify the way the treated them. In addition, the owners looked upon them the same way; they were only hired as workers because their labor was cheap, but they treated them basically as property.
The social abuse took a toll on the health of the migrants, hopelessly attempting to make a living for themselves and assimilate to Californian life. The discrimination of the Californians was passed on to their children. As the character Black Hat in Grapes of Wrath described, his children did not want to go to school because all the wealthy children with the "nice pants" were cruel to them; they would call them Okies and make fun of their families and their background. When Ma proposed the idea to Ruthie about going back to school after the Joads would settle down, Ruthie utterly refused. She was deathly afraid of the social abuse she would receive from the rich kids as a poor "Okie" child who had practically no belongings, whose parents made little money, and who was always questioning whether or not she would survive the month.
The social abuse took a toll on the health of the migrants, hopelessly attempting to make a living for themselves and assimilate to Californian life. The discrimination of the Californians was passed on to their children. As the character Black Hat in Grapes of Wrath described, his children did not want to go to school because all the wealthy children with the "nice pants" were cruel to them; they would call them Okies and make fun of their families and their background. When Ma proposed the idea to Ruthie about going back to school after the Joads would settle down, Ruthie utterly refused. She was deathly afraid of the social abuse she would receive from the rich kids as a poor "Okie" child who had practically no belongings, whose parents made little money, and who was always questioning whether or not she would survive the month.
As if the terrible living conditions, illnesses and trauma were not enough of an effect on the mental and physical health of the migrants, discrimination and subjugation caused severe social stress. According to The Shed Online, and as seen in John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath, "discrimination contributes to depression, poor quality of life, psychological distress, and substance use." The substance use is especially evident in Grapes of Wrath, as alcoholism is considered one of the main three things people do to keep "occupied", along with telling stories and playing music. Alcoholism is especially demonstrated in the character of Uncle John. Although he had been a heavy drinker ever since the death of his wife, it is probable that the family's awful situation and the poor treatment they receive by the owners and deputies contributes to his behavior. He also demonstrates depression, which is another condition of his that began with his wife's death, but has worsened since the migration. Although it is not mentioned outright, depression seems to be present in most of the Joad family. Many people look at it as if, "the migrants are used to their conditions and treatment", but honestly, how can one get used to being kicked out of their home, being constantly on the road, and being treated like animals by other human beings? Come to think of it, we don't even treat animals like that. The trauma is especially evident in the behavior of the children, but even the strong figures like Ma have clearly experienced a downfall. Ma has been described as the citadel of the family, and especially in their travels, she has kept everyone together. But throughout the course of the book, hopelessness grows and moods continue to worsen. Feeling beneath other people has extreme effects on the mind. Clearly, the discrimination of the Okies also contributes to stress and poor quality of life. Instead of trying to help the Okies and spending money to increase their wages, the government and the wealthy people are spending their money and energy to fight them and make their lives worse. With this kind of treatment, who wouldn't feel stressed? It is hard to imagine how the Okies felt, especially since the novel takes place such a long time ago and seems almost far-fetched. But just think of discrimination today. There are many people who have a hatred of others simply because of their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Although we are much more tolerant in society today than the owners were of the Okies during the Great Depression, just think of the stress, insecurity and depression the homosexual kid, the African-American kid or the Islamic kid may face in their daily lives. It truly makes us question our behavior toward other people, and how others react to what we say or do. We just need to say to ourselves, "How would we feel?"
Citations:
http://www.theshedonline.org.au/health-lifestyle/Discrimination
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/dust-bowl-cause1.htm
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
Citations:
http://www.theshedonline.org.au/health-lifestyle/Discrimination
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/dust-bowl-cause1.htm
The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
At Work: Prints from the Great Depression
Even though no words are spoken at any point throughout this video, I feel that this video is amazing in showing us what was going on through the minds of the people during the Great Depression. The video shows us the anxiety and tension of the people trying to find work. People are turning towards industrialization seeing that they are going to have to accept it. The artwork that was done also foreshadows how industrialization may turn out to be bad for our health by showing the smoke coming from machines. I wonder if this was intentional. The artwork truly helps one capture and feel emotional pain felt by the people during these times. What do you think? Were there any works in particular that spoke to you?
Page Taken From: 10P Healthy Living 2012-2013