The Joad family lost their land and house in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. They were forced to leave, but they kept optimistic about the future. They dreamed about picking oranges and getting a white house in California. Before they arrived in California, grandpa and grandma died on the road. Noah walked away along a river. Connie also left the family because of his immaturity. The preacher got caught by cops and later was shot to death. But the family didn't pause their travel. They can't afford to think too much about death and loss. They drove their truck all the way to California. They had to keep working to get food. Anxiety and fear always surround them. They were always angry about not getting food, being paid poor wages, being treated without dignity, and all the unfairness. But anger was covered by tiredness. They were too tired to be angry. Only as a family, they can stick together and had faith to survive.

In the end, the family was sheltered in a barn against rain. A boy in the barn asked them for milk for his dying father. The family went outside and then Rose of Sharon fed the starving man with her breast milk. Even Rose of Sharon just lost her baby and the Joad family has no money or food left, she still chose to help the starving man with what she can only offer. The family had nothing left, but they still helped others with dignity.