Mae and Al are most critical of people from which socio-economic class?

Mae and Al are most critical of people from which socio-economic class?

• A. Middle class
• B. Wealthy
• C. Desperate, unemployed poor
• D. Trades people (carpenters, plumbers, electricians)

Answer: (B)

Mae and Al direct their criticism at those who hold economic power in the story—the wealthy who own banks and land and profit from others’ hardship. In Grapes of Wrath, the cruelty of foreclosures and the exploitation by landowners and bankers are what fuel their anger, revealing a view that wealth and control over property enable oppression of ordinary people. The middle class isn’t portrayed as the primary oppressor here, and the desperate, unemployed poor are the ones suffering from the system rather than the targets of Mae’s and Al’s scorn. Tradespeople, such as carpenters or electricians, aren’t singled out as the object of their critique in the same way the wealthy are.

Mae and Al direct their criticism at those who hold economic power in the story—the wealthy who own banks and land and profit from others’ hardship. In Grapes of Wrath, the cruelty of foreclosures and the exploitation by landowners and bankers are what fuel their anger, revealing a view that wealth and control over property enable oppression of ordinary people. The middle class isn’t portrayed as the primary oppressor here, and the desperate, unemployed poor are the ones suffering from the system rather than the targets of Mae’s and Al’s scorn. Tradespeople, such as carpenters or electricians, aren’t singled out as the object of their critique in the same way the wealthy are.