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Times are changed, don’t you know? Thinking about stuff like that don’t feed the kids. Get your three dollars a day, feed your kids. You got no call to worry about anybody’s kids but your own.
In the conversation between the local tractor driver and his displaced neighbor in Chapter 5, the tractor driver argues that he is only doing what he must do to feed his family, regardless of what that means for other families. His selfishness enables the system of evicting the tenant farmers because he’s happy to contribute to that system as long as he can feed his own family. This selfishness snowballs, creating a system that rewards self-interest and therefore begets selfishness.
“Look there.” She pointed at the coins beside the cups—two half-dollars. Al walked near and looked, and then he went back to work.
“Truck drivers,” Mae said reverently, “an’ after them shitheels.”
This moment comes from Chapter 15, the intercalary chapter describing a roadside hamburger joint. The truck driver’s generous tip comes after a string of generosity, starting with Al encouraging Mae to give the displaced Midwesterners bread at a discount, which leads to Mae discounting the candy the children are eyeing. Each act of small generosity encourages more and furthermore puts everyone in the restaurant in a better mood. In contrast, the initial customers, or “shitheels,” as Mae calls them, are stingy with both their attitude and their wallets, leading to Mae, at first, being less friendly to the Midwestern family.
These here dances done funny things. Our people got nothing, but jes’ because they can ast their frien’s to come here to the dance, sets ’em up an’ makes ’em proud. An’ the folks respects ’em ’count of these here dances.
In Chapter 24, Jule talks about the wonderful environment created by the dances at the government camp. Even though the people in the camp are materially poor, by opening their doors and sharing music and happiness, they create an environment where people can have a respite from their harrowing lives. The ability of the dances to create such a positive reputation for the camp demonstrates how simply sharing joy with others is a powerful force that radiates outward.
