Chapter Fifteen Flashcards
Who is Mae?
A waitress in a diner along Highway 66.
Who is Al (not part of the Joads)?
A silent line cook working in the diner.
What do Al and Mae call the rich and haughty clientele that tip poorly?
“Shitheels”
What reinforces Steinbeck’s view that power leads to selfishness and discontent?
The rich, despite being the most able to help, are most ungrateful and miserable.
What do a pair of truck drivers in the restaurant discuss with Mae?
The influx of migrants and a crash - a Cadillac collided with a Jalopy recklessly leaving the rich driver impaled on his steering wheel and a migrant child dead.
What does Mae say she has heard rumours about?
That migrants are thieves but she has seen no evidence of their dishonesty.
What does Mae’s view on migrants show?
That she does not judge them off of rumours but off of evidence she has seen.
What is the car crash a symbol of?
The destructive nature of greed for the greedy and less fortunate.
What does a migrant farmer and his two sons come in and ask Mae for?
Water - Mae seems irritated by their presence but lets them drink.
What does the man ask to buy?
A loaf of bread - Mae is reluctant to sell the fifteen cent bread as it is what they use to make sandwiches.
What does Al tell May to do?
Sell them the bread as they only have a dime.
What does the farmer insist on?
Only taking 10 cents worth of the loaf but May instead gives him the whole loaf as well as selling two peppermint sticks for a penny.
What does the farmers reluctancy to steal from the store show?
Their remaining dignity even through their struggles.
What does Mae selling the food at lower prices show?
Her overcoming her initial reluctancy and affirms once again the presence of kindness in humanity.
What do two truck drivers leave Mae after calling her out for selling the food at a lower price?
A generous tip - shows their approval.
