How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
[tenant farmers:] But you can't start. Only a baby can start. You and me – why, we're all that's been. The anger of a moment, the thousand pictures, that's us. This land, this red land, is us; and the flood years and the dust years and the drought years are us. We can't start again. (9.10)
So if these families can't start again, if their hearts are irreparably broken, what can they do? What do they do? If the Joads aren't starting over, what are they doing? Are they continuing, going with the flow, or giving up?
Quote #5
[Casy:] "Somepin's happening. I went up an' I looked, an' the houses us all empty, an' the land is empty, an' this whole country is empty." (10.35)
When we think about change, we think about new life and new experiences. We think about advancements and growth. But this kind of change rids a huge section of America of life and makes it kind of dead.
Quote #6
The Western land, nervous under the beginning change. The Western States, nervous as horses before a thunder storm. The great owners, nervous, sensing a change, knowing nothing of the nature of the change. (14.1)
How can land sense change? The idea of change almost has a dangerous quality to it at this moment, and explosive nature. What's more, the change that the Western land and the great owners anticipate does seem to be gradual change, but, rather, change that comes upon them like a sudden thunderstorm. This kind of change happens quickly.