Background of Grapes of Wrath

Background of the play- The Grapes Of Wrath is set in southern America, 1930s. It is the story of a family who have been affected by the dust bowl and find that they have to travel, because they have nothing left after the bank took back their home. Like many families, they start their travels to California where it is said that there are many jobs and houses available. Most of the family are excited about this 'new beginning', however occasionally Ma Joad suggests how she’s not sure. Ma is the character that keeps the family together on their travels and through many obstacles, such as Grampa’s, and then Granma's, death! What is the dust bowl ? The dust bowl happened because the trees and hedges were cut down in order to make more space for growing crops, however when the wind blew it blew the dirt and created a dust bowl. And no crops, meant families weren't able to sell them for money, and so they weren’t able to pay the banks for the houses, and finally the banks foreclosed their farms and took everything !