Abstract：John Steinbeck, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature, is recognized as one of the most important American writers of the twentieth century. He is probably best remembered for his strong sociological novel The Grapes of Wrath, which aroused widespread sympathy for the plight of migratory farm workers.
Set during the Great Depression, the novel focuses on the Joads, a poor family of tenant farmers driven from their Oklahoma home by drought, economic hardship, and changes in financial and agricultural industries. Due to their nearly hopeless situation, and in part because they were trapped in the Dust Bowl, the Joads set out for California. Along with thousands of other "Okies", they sought jobs, land, dignity, and a future.
The Joads stand as exemplary figures in their refusal to be broken by the circumstances that conspire against them. At every turn, Steinbeck seems intent on showing their dignity and honor; he emphasizes the importance of maintaining self-respect in order to survive spiritually. Steinbeck makes a clear connection in his novel between dignity and rage. As long as people maintain a sense of injustice—a sense of anger against those who seek to undercut their pride in themselves—they will never lose their dignity.
This paper studies how people in adversity use their own human love and united strength to fight against unfair treatment, and how the angry people awoke and rose to protect their losing dignity. The brilliant power of humanity shown by the angry people proves that even the most horrible circumstances can be weathered with grace and dignity.
Key words: The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck dignity power of humanity
摘要：诺贝尔文学奖获奖作家斯坦贝克，被公认为二十世纪美国最重要的作家之一。他因为创作了代表作《愤怒的葡萄》而闻名于世，小说具有强烈的社会批判性质，曾引发了美国社会对处在困境中的流浪工人们的广泛同情。
故事发生在大萧条时期，小说描述了佃户约德一家人因为干旱，经济困难，金融变革和农业产业化的影响而离开了他们在俄克拉荷马的家。因为他们被困在“大沙窝”中，在这近乎绝望的处境中，约德一家动身前往加利福尼亚，和其他千千万万的流浪工人一起寻找工作，土地，尊严和一个美好的未来。
约德一家人在环境磨难面前，树立了拒绝放弃、拒绝服输的典范。在每个重要情节，斯坦贝克好像都意在表现他们的尊严和高尚：他强调人要实现精神上的生存必须保持自尊。斯坦贝克在小说中明显地把尊严和愤怒联系起来。只要人们尚存对不公正的感知——一种对于那些侵犯他们尊严的人的愤怒感——就不会失掉尊严。
本文研究了逆境的人们使用自己的人性中爱和团结的力量，反抗不公平的待遇，以及愤怒的人们如何觉醒并用自己的力量去维护他们即将失去的尊严。愤怒的人们所展现出的人性中光辉的力量证明了，再恶劣的环境也可以通过优雅从容和尊严来战胜。
关键词:《愤怒的葡萄》；斯坦贝克；尊严；人性的力量
