The first chapter of a book is extremely important for the rest of the story. It sets the mood for everything that follows, and it also must hook and reel in the reader so that they want to read the rest of the novel.
Chapter One of The Grapes of Wrath is a bit different from some of the other chapters in the book. I have come to think of it and the other chapters similar to it as sort of "filler" chapters, but not it a sense that they are not as important as the other chapters. The other chapters are mainly about the Joad family's story, but the filler chapters help the reader see the big picture of the entire Dust Bowl migration and how the Joad family fits into this historic event.
I think it was a smart idea for John Steinbeck to use these chapters. About half of the chapters are filler, and the other half are the actual story. The chapters continue to remind you of the general mood of the story, and they help Steinbeck get his point across. They are kind of the ropes that ties the whole story together.
I personally like them because they let you step back from the Joad family for a little bit and take a breather. I tend to get emotionally attached to the characters in the books that I read, so it helps that these chapters do no talk about them.
This first "filler" chapter basically detailed the beginning of the Dust Bowl disaster. There was a long drought in the Midwest/West, during which the ground dried so much that it began to turn to dust. Then a series of wind storms came that destroyed most famers' crops and houses. This eventually forced most families out on the road. It was not really a happy time, but this book is not really happy either, so it is a perfect start for this book.
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