The Struggle in The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a story about life during the Great Depression. Steinbeck tells the story through the Joad family and how they struggle to survive. It also has short chapters about the background and what was going on outside of the Joads. At the beginning of the book Tom, the second eldest son, is hitchhiking home from McAlester, the prison. He was just paroled from a murder conviction after spending about four years in prison. When he gets out of the truck he meets the preacher Casy. The only thing different is that Casy is no longer a preacher and hasn't even been around for very long. He left because of conflicts he had with his faith in God. After sitting and talking for a while, they decide to go to the Joads house together. Although Tom's parents have no idea that he has been paroled. But as soon as they reach the house the two notice that it is unusually run down and empty. When they enter, the house is empty, except for a couple of things that have been left behind. Some of them were important to the family. Then they see a person coming towards them. It turns out to be Muley Graves, an old friend. The three begin to talk at length about what is happening in the area. Banks and land companies had driven many farmers, including the Joads and Muleys family, off the land, and now tractors plowed the land instead of men. Then Muley tells Tom that his family is staying with his Uncle John. The next morning Tom and the preacher left for Uncle John's house. When they arrive, Tom surprises his father and the entire family with his sudden arrival. Soon after Tom finds out that the whole family is going west to California. After a short debate they decide to go the next day and bring Tom and the preacher. Also arriving were Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, Tom's older brother Noah, Tom's younger brothers Al, Sharon's Rose (who is pregnant) and her husband Connie, Ruthie and Windfield, as well as Uncle Tom. for California, their morale is extremely high.