The Promised Land
A common motif is that the High Plains are often called by the people who saw it as being their last hope as Paradise. Many immigrants who bought lands there imagined it as being the perfect place where they could start their life again and the place where they surly will be happy. This idea, along with the disappointment they experienced upon seeing the land, is a common motif in the book.
Plant More Wheat
Another common motif is the way the farmers decided to act when the prices of wheat would go down or up. Their response was always to plant even more than before, not thinking that they ended up in that situation because of excessive farming.
Symbol for the End of Healthiness
In the second part, the author notes how the National Bank of Dalhart closed on June 1931. The closing of the bank is seen as a symbol by many of the people living in the city and marks the beginning of the financial problems for the area. The fact that the Bank closed signals how there was no financial hope for the area.
Allegory for the American People
In 1932, America held another presidential election and Roosevelt was one of the people who was favored by the people. In comparison with the other people who ran for president, he was a person who suffered a lot and who was told had no chance of succeeding in life. Despite what he was told, Roosevelt thrived and built a future for himself. He is used in this context as an allegory for the Americans in the 1930s. Many believed they had no future as well but some of them refused to believe this and continued to hope for a better future even though the odds were against them.
We Are Spartans
Another common motif found in the book is how many officials and especially McCarty used to refer to the people living in the High Plains as being Spartans. The description had the purpose of highlighting the idea that the people living in the High Plains were strong people who did not gave up easily when things became though and who would always fight no matter the circumstances.
