This whole book has to do with the history of the time period and all of the different issues going on. The book obviously takes place during the dust bowl and that is way all the families are moving to the west in the first place. "Now the dust was evenly mixed in with the air, an emulsion of dust and air. Houses were shut tight, and cloth wedged around doors and windows, but the dust came in so thinly that it could not be seen in the air, and it settled like pollen on chairs and tables, on the dishes." (Steinbeck 3) This caused farmers in the mid-west and south to migrate west in hope of getting a chance of jobs there. The people in California called the people who migrated, Okies and reds. These were insults. The people there hated the migrants and thought they could get away without paying them much at all for all their hard work they do. They also discuss the different kinds of cars that existed in this time period. "Start 'em with a Cad'. Then you can work 'em down to that '26 Buick. 'F you start on the Buick, they'll go for a Ford. Roll up your sleeves an' get to work. This ain't gonna last forever. Show 'em that Nash while I get the slow leak pumped up on that "25 Dodge. I'll give you a Hymie when I'm ready." (Steinbeck 61) The salesmen tried to sale cars for as little as possible. Which I guess is no different than salesmen now days. Their was a lot of conflict between the rich and the poor in this story. Everyone would do what they could to get money even if it meant somebody else didn't get any money at all. They would rush to get work and butt other people out of the job. California was described as a great place full of fruit trees and huge farms. It apparently was very beautiful. The setting was described perfectly so I could picture it in my head. I could picture the dust bowl perfectly ,too. The dying plants, dust laying over the ground, abandoned house, and the hot red sun shining down.
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