Which response to worker hardship does the novel portray as most effective?

Which response to worker hardship does the novel portray as most effective?

• A. Rely on solitary self-improvement
• B. Build and support unions and collective bargaining
• C. Seek charity from wealthy patrons
• D. Move away from industrial towns

Answer: (B)

Solidarity and collective action through unions empower workers to challenge exploitation. The novel treats migrant hardship as a systemic issue tied to how landowners and economic power operate, not just to individual luck. Characters like Jim Casy push toward organizing, and when families join together—sharing resources, supporting strikes, and standing with one another—their bargaining power grows. This collective voice can push for fair wages, safer conditions, and better treatment in a way that individuals acting alone cannot. Solitary self-improvement leaves workers vulnerable to the same abuses, charity from wealthy patrons is unreliable and can reinforce dependency, and moving away from industrial towns may offer a temporary escape but doesn’t address the root causes. By highlighting unions and collective bargaining, the story shows a durable path to real improvement through unity.

Solidarity and collective action through unions empower workers to challenge exploitation. The novel treats migrant hardship as a systemic issue tied to how landowners and economic power operate, not just to individual luck. Characters like Jim Casy push toward organizing, and when families join together—sharing resources, supporting strikes, and standing with one another—their bargaining power grows. This collective voice can push for fair wages, safer conditions, and better treatment in a way that individuals acting alone cannot. Solitary self-improvement leaves workers vulnerable to the same abuses, charity from wealthy patrons is unreliable and can reinforce dependency, and moving away from industrial towns may offer a temporary escape but doesn’t address the root causes. By highlighting unions and collective bargaining, the story shows a durable path to real improvement through unity.