Al Joad Quotes

And randy Al, seeing he was being noticed, threw back his shoulders, and he came into the yard with a swaying strut like that of a rooster about to crow. Cockily, he walked close before he recognized Tom; and when he did, his boasting face changed, and admiration and veneration shone in his eyes, and his swagger fell away.

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 8. Tom Joad’s younger brother Al is delighted to see Tom. Al obviously looks up to his older brother, his expression changes from cockiness and boastfulness to admiration and veneration at Tom’s homecoming. Steinbeck uses a simile to describe how Al initially struts like "a rooster about to crow."

"Pa, some fellas was talkin’ about Tom, an’ they says he’s parole’. An’ they says that means he can’t go outside the State, or if he goes, an’ they catch him, they send ‘im back for three years."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 10. Al Joad has overheard some men talking about his brother Tom. They are saying that he has been paroled, which means he cannot travel outside the state, and if he does he will be send back to prison for three years. With the family migrating to California, Tom has an important choice to make – does he go with them and risk going back to jail.

Al, at the wheel, his face purposeful, his whole body listening to the car, his restless eyes jumping from the road to the instrument panel. Al was one with his engine, every nerve listening for weaknesses, for the thumps or squeals, hums and chattering that indicate a change that may cause a breakdown. He had become the soul of the car.

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 13. Al Joad proves a confident and skillful driver, as he takes the wheel of the family truck along Highway 66. He listens carefully to the car’s every sound for any sign that it is about to suffer a breakdown.

Al said, "I’ll fix your car – me an’ Tom will." And Al looked proud that he could return the family’s obligation.

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 13. Al Joad offers to repair the Wilsons’ car so that they can make it to California. This is in return for the Wilson family’s help in offering dignity and a deathbed to the dying Grampa Joad. One act of generosity inspires another in return, as two migrant families demonstrate the power of unity and community togetherness.

Al jammed on the brake and stopped in the middle of the road, and, "Jesus Christ! Look!" he said. The vineyards, the orchards, the great flat valley, green and beautiful, the trees set in rows, and the farm houses.
And Pa said, "God Almighty!" The distant cities, the little towns in the orchard land, and the morning sun, golden on the valley. A car honked behind them. Al pulled to the side of the road and parked.
"I want ta look at her." The grain fields golden in the morning, and the willow lines, the eucalyptus trees in rows.
Pa sighed, "I never knowed they was anything like her." The peach trees and the walnut groves, and the dark green patches of oranges. And red roofs among the trees, and barns – rich barns.

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 18. The Joads feast their eyes for the first time on California’s aesthetically pleasing lush San Joaquin Valley. Probably no other passage in the novel describes the beauty of California like this one. The refugees from the exhausted Dust Bowl farms are impressed by what they see. Steinbeck uses color imagery, "green" and "golden," to suggest that they have arrived at a place teeming with new life, hope and prosperity. The San Joaquin Valley and the Sacramento Valley together form the 450-mile long Central Valley, which is the world’s largest agricultural area. Little wonder that the Joads believe that they have just reached Paradise.

Al hurried out and walked recklessly toward the platform, his eye peeled for girls. Near the dance floor he saw a pretty blond girl sitting in front of a tent. He sidled near and threw open his coat to show his shirt…"How ’bout you an’ me dancin’?"

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 24. A roguish Al Joad is in flirtatious mood as he asks a girl to dance at the Saturday night entertainment at Weedpatch. This is in contrast to his sister Rose of Sharon, who initially is afraid to go to the dance because of a Jesus-lover’s warning about sin.

Al said, "Pa, if they go, I’m a-goin’ too."
Pa looked startled. "You can’t, Al. The truck – We ain’t fit to drive that truck."
"I don’ care. Me an’ Aggie got to stick together."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 30. After days of torrential rain, the cohesion of the Joad family threatens to become unstuck. Al announces that if the Wainwrights leave the boxcar camp he will go with them and his fiancé Aggie. With Rose of Sharon sick and pregnant, Pa pleads with Al to stay.

"I’m hungry," Ruthie whined.
"No, you ain’t," Ma said. "You had good mush."
"Wisht I had a box a Cracker Jack. There ain’t nothin’ to do. Ain’t no fun."
"They’ll be fun," Ma said. "You jus’ wait. Be fun purty soon. Git a house an’ a place, purty soon."
"Wisht we had a dog," Ruthie said.
"We’ll have a dog; have a cat, too."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 30. The American dream is still shining bright for an optimistic Ma Joad, despite the family’s trials and hardships. When Ruthie complains about having no Cracker Jack or fun, Ma promises her not only fun, but a house, a dog and a cat. Ma is a symbol of hope and the glue that holds the Joad family together.
Close