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INTRODUCTION

When looking at The Grapes of Wrath, there were many different factors that led not only the Joads down this path, but many others as well.  Although the role of the Communist deosn't necessarily play a factor until the very end of the novel, it is the Joad's struggle that shows the reader why one, or more specifically Tom Joad and Casy the preacher went down this path. As the Joads and the other Okies try every option to make it in California, they never truly get the chance and are left disappointed.  This is the case for not only the migrant workers of California, but for many other hard-working families during the Great Depression across America.  Of course hard times lead to rash decisions, and for some, the influence of the Communist Party didn't seem like the worst route to go for some of the workers. 

As Casy decides that he is on a "life-quest," and that he no longer wants to be a preacher, he, along with the Joads, find no resolution in traveling to California.  After a trip to jail, Casy falls in with the Red Party in hopes that he will, in this attempt, be able to help people in this way.  It is inevitable that Tom too will become a member of this movement.  He unintentionally becomes involved when striking a police officer in defence of himself and his friend Casy. 

In the 1930's, many desperate people turned to members of the Red Party in order to push strikes forward.  The Communists were the ones to raise the strikes to dangerous situatuions at times, however they were able to get the demands of the workers met.  The American media tried to hinder strikers by making them all look like dangerous members of the Communist Party.  This wasn't necessarily true for the majority of the strikers, being as they were simply hard-working men wanting to provide for their families.