Grapes of Wrath chap. 8/9

Chap.8

Summary: Tom and Casey walk to Toms uncles house, while walking tom tells casey the story behind Uncle John and his wife dying because her appendex burst. When they arrive at the house Tom sees his dad outside working on the truck that they will be taking to california. Tom reunites with his father and two decide to surprise his mother. They walk into the house and at first Ma does't take a good look at Tom but then she really sees him and is overjoyed that he is home. She is worred though that he has gone mad from being in prison and questions whether or not he escaped. Then Tom reunites with his grandparents, and they all sit down for breakfast where Casey has to say grace even though he is not a priest anymore. Al, toms brother arrives at the house, and tom is told that his two youngest siblings have gone to town with Uncle John. Toms sister Sharon has married and is expecting a baby.

Characters:
Tom
Casey
Old Tom
Ma
Grandma joad
Grandpa joad
Al
Ruthie
Winfield
Sharon

Themes:
Importance of family- Tom has finally reuinted with his family and they are all extremely overjoyed to see him. Ma didn't want to leave to California because she was worried tom would never find them but when he arrives at the farm she was more than excited

Chapter 9:

Summary- The tenant farmers are raising money for there trip to california but they are having a very difficult time. They have to pawn off all of there belongings and they do not get very much money for it at all. The famers have to return home to thier wives and tell them that they have sold most of ther belongings for hardly any money. The wives do not want to give up some of there special possesions, but they have to in order to make the trip.

Characters:
Tenant famers
Thier wives

Themes:
The importance of the land to the poeple- These families do not want to give up their land but they have to along with the majority of there possesions.

People vs. Molach(monster)- These men have to sell all of there possesions in order to afford to leave for california because they have nowhere else to go because they have been kicked off their land.