In another thread, Kilgoretrout brings up a good point - Steinbeck's portrayal of Oklahomans was not something to resent. The Joads were hard-working, honorable people. So why do we consider this book (and movie) to be such a yoke around our necks? Instead of continuing this discussion in that thread and hijacking it, I've set up my response here. I wonder - is the resentment not with the Joads or Steinbeck's portrayal of Oklahomans, but rather the movie made the state look like a dry, barren wasteland?