33 pages 1 hour read

John Steinbeck

The Harvest Gypsies: On the Road to the Grapes of Wrath

Nonfiction | Essay Collection | Adult | Published in 1936

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Article 4

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Article 4 Summary

Steinbeck next dove into discussion of the two official migrant camps that the federal government had established in California, though it planned to build eight more. The government offered basic facilities such as showers, toilets, an administrative office, and a simple recreation center. There was clean water and toilet paper. A resident manager remained on-site. Instead of paying rent, migrant families committed to helping maintain the camp at least two hours a week. A women’s organization known as Good Neighbors sewed clothing and quilts for community members and maintained a children’s nursery so that their mothers could work in the fields while their children were looked after. Members of the Good Neighbors greeted new arrivals to the camp. Steinbeck cited from a manager’s report on a new camp family that arrived with little food and filthy belongings: “The Good Neighbors at once took the family in hand, and by 10 o’clock they were fed, washed, camped, settled and asleep” (42). 

 

There were no outside police, as the community policed itself by offering punishments—like restricting access to the community dances—for mild infractions and then recommending a camper be removed for more serious violations. None of the campers were receiving government aid, so although the federal government spent approximately $18,000 constructing the camp, it spent comparatively little once the camp was set up.

Related Titles

By John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

Cannery Row

John Steinbeck

Cannery Row

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

East of Eden

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

In Dubious Battle

John Steinbeck

In Dubious Battle

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

Sweet Thursday

John Steinbeck

Sweet Thursday

John Steinbeck

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE

logo

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

John Steinbeck

The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

The Log From The Sea of Cortez

John Steinbeck

The Log From The Sea of Cortez

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

The Long Valley

John Steinbeck

The Long Valley

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Moon Is Down

John Steinbeck

The Moon Is Down

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Red Pony

John Steinbeck

The Red Pony

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Wayward Bus

John Steinbeck

The Wayward Bus

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

The Winter Of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck

The Winter Of Our Discontent

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

To a God Unknown

John Steinbeck

To a God Unknown

John Steinbeck

Plot Summary

logo

Tortilla Flat

John Steinbeck

Tortilla Flat

John Steinbeck

Study Guide

logo

Travels With Charley

John Steinbeck

Travels With Charley

John Steinbeck