Quote Impact- Chapters 11-15 (D)

"This is the thing to bomb. This is the beginning-from 'I' to 'we'. If you who own the things people must have could understand this, you might preserve yourself. If you could separate causes from results, if you could know that Paine, Marx, Jefferson, Lenin were results, not causes, you might survive. But that you cannot know. For the quality of owning freezes you forever into 'I', and cuts you off forever from the 'we'" (193).

     This quote stood out to me because it is the first sign of hope that the novel mentioned, in which there is a social shift where social consciousness gradually begins to emerge in the novel. I am a strong believer of helping others in times of need, so this sudden change from the frightened, tired, and hungry wandering people, came this new perspective from those to join forces with one another, who are also victims of the same circumstances, as they realize the strength one could obtain when united together. This connects to Casy's belief of the over-soul, and that love between fellow humans is the key to holiness, as these migrants begin to share what little they have with each other. Even in this temporary unit, the migrants are always willing to help one another. The selflessness of the migrants is juxtaposed with the selfishness of the landowners, thus showing that man's actions can go beyond oneself.
    The chapter also makes a statement regarding the owners and the high powers fear to the changes that are imminent and threaten their interests. Yet, it is the owners who are the cause of this change. By forcing the farmers from their land, they have created the hunger that afflicts them, an idea that was explored in Chapter 5, between the profit hungry banks and the smaller farmers who only want a place to settle and live. The quote discusses the greed that has blinded the owners, and that they sense that change is imminent, however, Steinbeck suggests that the owners self interest prevents them from understanding the indisputable power that will arise from the development of the disenfranchised people. Which connects to the theme of the adversary relationship between the owners and the working class.
     What I have taken away from this quote if that "we," even though it is not a big word,it conveys a bigger message, especially in times of strife when the work of one single person just isn't enough to survive.