In The Grapes of Wrath, of what symbolic value is the desert?This question is aiming at the end of the second section of the book. Thanks to...

The symbolic value of the desert represents the lack of
hope in America at the time.  When I see the desert and Dust Bowl conditions presented,
I see areas that were once fertile and vibrant representing a sense of desolation and
the embodiment of barrenness.  On a more symbolic level, Steinbeck's use of the desert
might also be exploring the idea of the promises of capitalism for many.  The lure and
assurance of wealth and material prosperity of capitalism was something that was barren
and empty during the 1930s.  The spirit of "striking it rich" that had preceded this
time period for so long dried up, similar to the desert.  Certainly, the physical
setting for the Joads' journey is one use of the desert, but I see the concept as
relating to much more about the economic and social condition of the Great
Depression.