The Grapes of Wrath: Narrative and the Film Extract

The narrative structure is being told by an unknown narrator. He's the omniscient narrator because he knows everything. It's a 3 act narrative structure;there's the beginning, middle and end. The story is direct, only present time is being used given that there're no flashbacks nor frontwards. The narration is being organized by the plot, the chronological order of events. Since the story is about the Oklahoma family that moves to California because they have lost their land due to the Dust Bowl, during the Great Depression era. The protagonist is Tom Joad through the narration we learn that he's being in jail and now that he's out he just lost his home. The narration doesn't take a side of the farmer and shows how they struggle go to California and find jobs. Because of the background given and the fighting spirit of the Joad family, the audience engages into the story and develops interest for the characters. All this is product of the narrative and 3 act structure. In addition, theme of hope, racism, and democracy is explored in the story and portray through the events occurred in the film.