"This land is your land, this land is my land. From California to the New York Island." (Woody Guthrie) The American dream is a "national ethos of
the United States, the set of ideals (democracy, rights, liberty, opportunity and
equality) in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success,
as well as an upward social mobility for the family and children." In the Grapes of Wrath families had to migrate to California
during the dustbowl. The Joad family (the main family of the book) had high
hopes/expectations before leaving for California. “Maybe we can start over
again, in the new rich land-in California, where fruit grows. We’ll start over.”
(9) “But I think how nice it’s going to be, maybe in California. Never cold. An’
people just being in the nicest places, little white houses among the orange
trees.” (10) America, the land of the free and the home of the brave. The
migrants had great hopes for the journey ahead, unfortunately the country they
were about to travel to would not be as free or welcoming. “This is a free
country. Fella can go wherever he wants.” “That’s what you think! Ever hear of
the border patrol on the California line? Police from Los Angeles- stop you.
Says, got a driver’s license? Let’s see it. Tore it up. Says you can’t come in
without no driver’s license.” (11) Upon
their arrival to California they were “welcomed” with cops demanding to search through
their things and being threatened that if they do not leave, they will be burned
out.
