An effective way for writers to demonstrate the moral values ​​of a society is to tell the story not from a member of the society, but from a person's point of view alienated from it. This method reveals small things that a person in the company would not notice and provides different insights that only a person outside the company can notice. This is the case with The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Tom Joad's alienation from wealthy California landowners demonstrates that money is the top priority for those who own land, while poor and deemed worthless families are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Thousands of families flocked to California just to be able to feed their children. families, but by showing the landowners' treatment of these families, or lack thereof, Steinbeck highlights the fact that they don't even think about letting them eat, and that money is the only thing they really care about. When he explains to his family that Jim Casy had gone on strike because of low wages, Tom says, "Yes. What we were doing was breaking the strike. They give them two and a half cents." Dad replies, "You can't eat on it." When their prospects become so desperate, the first priority is to feed their families and hope for better times. By showing these small, seemingly insignificant noble acts, Steinbeck shows the determination of these families to move forward. The low wages set by the landowners show that they, the landowners, do not care at all about the families, even in their misery. With such low wages the landowners alienate these poor families and give cause for hostility. This form of alienation shows that these landowners intend to keep every penny they can. With lower wages paid to more workers, things get done faster while the rich can keep their pockets full. Another way the landowners invoke hostilities is the very way they refer to these poor families. When Tom asks, "Okie? What is it?" this character responds, "Well, Okie uses 'ta mean you were from Oklahoma. Now it means you're a dirty son of a bitch. Okie means you're scum." By using such a disgusting name, landowners further distance themselves from these people. Not only does such a name evoke hatred in the minds of the poor, but it also further reiterates the revulsion that landowners feel towards these people for just being there..