Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" And the Great Depression as Context. This essay explains the historical and political context of the Great Depression in the Western US as the context for "The Grapes of Wrath". It draws on critical interpretations of the book, and discusses the issues of workers' rights, Christianity, and human suffering as they appear in the novel. 5 pgs, bibliography lists 4 sources. Pages: 5 Bibliography: 4 source(s) listed Filename: 12335 The Great Depression.doc Price: 44.75