THE UNREACHABLE DREAM OF LABOR IN JOHN STEINBECK’S THE GRAPES OF WRATH

Abstract

The Grapes of Wrath is a novel written by John Steinbeck. This research is focused on the unreachable dream of labor, the effects of capitalism which make the condition become harder. The dream of labor become unreachable because the capitalism make the labor becomes object exploitation of high class. Further, the labor does not has power to do anything even they lose their home, land, and job. There are three problem to discuss in this research. The first is the unreachable dream of labor in the novel, then, the worldview prevailed in the novel, and the last is the ideology constructed in the society. In this research, I use qualitative research method and qualitative data to analyze this research The primary data of this research are the statements related to unreachable dream in the novel. The secondary data of this research is all information related to American society and capitalism in the book, journal, or internet sources. The form of data are statement including sentences and paragraph. In this research, the dream becomes unreachable because the effects of great depression and capitalism. In this condition the labor only becomes the object of exploitation by the high class. Here, the high class becomes luckier because they can control the market system.