Social and Moral Policies of Government

SOCIAL AND MORAL POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT Jennifer Robertson White Phil 2000 - Ethics August 18, 2010 Social and Moral Policies of Government Introduction The essay interprets the movie Grapes of Wrath an American drama film directed by John Ford and written by John Steinbeck. The paper relates one of the major movie’s characters - Tom Joad to the philosophies of Jean Jacques Rousseau and Thomas Hobbes. The essay also addresses such matters as, the manner with which the character (Tom) reflects the nature of government as the guarantor of peace and security, social obligation of the government to its subjects and the manner with which Tom removes the chains of social conviction as well as government imposition (Steinbeck, 2009). All governments at all times must have in place social and moral policies that protect its subjects, if not the subjects will use all means possible to remove the chains of convictions. The philosophers Thomas Hobbes thought as the father of totalitarianism live between 1588 and 1679. He held that government and society didn’t exist naturally but created by man to protect them from each other-good life. He believed to achieve this, men appointed the strongest among them to rule. Thomas was of the opinion that restriction and rules are good, watching human behavior and enforcing punishment ensures attainment of peace. A French philosopher of all times, jean Jacques Rousseau was born in 1712 and died in 1778. He developed social contract theory among other cherished works. Jean held that there exist a contact between citizens and the respective states, certainly good life lies on our hands in putting in place a government that will foster attainment of it. He believed that government and society are the problems, since the former put forward rules that constantly put man in chains so to speak. These two philosophers in my own opinion led a good life and provided us with a lot of insight to governance among other things. Movie summary Tom who got back from prison during the great depression period found out that his family and entire people of Oklahoma severely affected and have moved out. He met Casey, once a preacher, who together with Mulley, Tom’s neighbor, told him of the events. The two attribute the problems to ‘winds of dust’, and people were not in a position to practice agriculture as they were used to. All these were clearly depicted via Mulley’s two flashbacks-his futile confrontation of the caterpillar driver demolishing houses and the one that brings to light the gap between the rich and the poor (Steinbeck, 1998). It surfaced that the company Shawnee Land and Cattle Company seemed to have mortgaged the lands to one of the banks that is in control and implementation of mechanized farming. Thus the locals were evicted from their farms and the Joad’s were not an exception. Tom’s reunion with his family members was a happy one. Although his uncle had accommodated his family, it emerges that the uncle’s farm will be reposed. This compelled the Joad’s to move to California with the aim of searching for job opportunities (Steinbeck, 2009). Tom’s grandpa refuses to leave and he is made to get drunk so as he can be carried. Due to poverty, the twelve members’ board a truck, as they were not in a position to hire other transportation services, had very few assets to transport and could not fend for themselves thus; they had to look for greener pastures - California. On the way, the old man died of stroke. He is buried with a note that described circumstances surrounding his death so that when his body id found, homicide will be ruled out. Casy when performing the funeral did not offer prayer and said that the old man is safer than those who are a life. “I wouldn't pray just for an old man that's dead, 'cause he's all right. If I was to pray, I'd pray for folks that's alive and don't know which way to turn” (Steinbeck, 2009). On their way, they met with a man returning from California who laughs at the family determination and perceived conditions in California. He narrates his ordeals hinting to the Joad's what they are to expect on their arrival. The first camp where they pitch a tent was crowded with lots of starving kids, unemployed and frustrated persons. As they continued to travel, they come to terms that the land they were seeking was not that of milk and honey. This was because it was difficult to secure a job, if one did the pay were very small and foodstuff very expensive. The grandma dies upon arriving in California. Moving on, the Joad’s found work but the scenario was unpredictable. On...