Out of the Dust Essay Questions

What role does despair play in Out of the Dust?

In Out of the Dust, despair plays a significant role as one of the novel's major themes. Karen Hesse explores the theme of despair primarily through her depiction of the harsh realities brought about by the hardships of the Dust Bowl. Originally prosperous wheat farmers in the Oklahoma Panhandle, the Kelbys have witnessed their once-thriving farm, which catered to the high demand for crops during the First World War, succumb to the economic hardships of the Depression. Overworked land, coupled with a prolonged drought, has left the Kelbys in dire straits, grappling with hunger and mounting debt. Having endured years of misery, Billie Jo's parents engage in heated debates over the viability of only planting wheat, a crop they haven't harvested in abundance since 1931. The omnipresent dust—a consequence of eroded soil that has been swept off the fields to infiltrate homes and bury vulnerable crops—becomes a poignant symbol of the inescapable despair afflicting the Kelbys. With the deaths of Ma and Franklin, the emotional devastation intensifies for Billie Jo and Bayard. Stripped of any hope for a brighter future on the farm, Billie Jo feels the only solution is to run away and get "out of the dust"—to flee the despair that blankets her life like dust.

What role does poverty play in Out of the Dust?

Poverty is a significant theme that Karen Hesse develops in Out of the Dust, a historical novel that unfolds amid the peak years of the Great Depression—a global economic downturn that spanned from 1929 to 1939. The aftermath of the Wall Street stock market crash that occurred at the outset of this tumultuous decade reverberated worldwide, causing a decline in gross domestic product, a sharp decrease in international trade, and a surge in unemployment rates. In the Dust Bowl region, the repercussions were particularly harsh, as reduced trade translated to lower crop prices for farmers, who also grappled with the challenges of drought and soil erosion. For the Kelbys, the absence of a successful wheat crop since 1931 means that, by 1934, the family is starving ("whittled down to the bone," in Billie Jo's words) and dealing with the stress of accumulating more debt to plant crops with uncertain prospects. As neighboring families abandon their farms and seek employment on California farms, Hesse illustrates how impoverishment becomes a divisive force that strains the relationship between Billie Jo's parents, who openly argue about finances in the presence of their daughter. The narrative touches upon the historically significant government intervention of the New Deal, which saw the Roosevelt administration implement measures to aid U.S. economic recovery through loans and jobs programs. But despite obtaining loans to support their crop planting, ultimately the Kelbys and fellow Panhandle farmers rely on favorable weather conditions to make the crops grow and to alleviate their poverty.

In what ways is Out of the Dust a book about the environment?

As a novel that portrays a family grappling with the harsh realities of life in the Dust Bowl, Out of the Dust shows the consequences of the human impact on the natural world. The real-life Dust Bowl is a region in the Great Plains of North America that during the 1930s was afflicted with drought and relentless winds that collaborated to erode the topsoil from farmers' fields; the result was massive dust storms that made life miserable and unhealthy, and that made it much more difficult to raise animals and grow crops. The novel underscores the significant role of poor land management in exacerbating this environmental crisis. Fueled by the heightened demand for American crops during World War I, farmers in the Great Plains expanded their cultivation areas, breaking up the topsoil—which had been held in place by prairie grass—to plant monocultures that gave no nutrients back to the soil. The introduction of more grazing animals further compounded the issue, as these animals consumed the grass that held topsoil in place. Karen Hesse vividly illustrates in the narrative how people confronting this environmental crisis coped with the hardships of dust settling in their homes and ruining their already scarce food supply. Billie Jo comments that she is grateful to have milk, even if she has to chew it—a grim joke about airborne dust thickening the family's milk. Rain, a sporadic occurrence, poses additional challenges, as the dry, hardened fields struggle to absorb the water. In this way, the rain risks washing away or drowning delicate crops. Eventually, however, a positive shift occurs with more gradual and consistent rainfall that replenishes the soil. Billie Jo's father also implements novel land management strategies, such as the creation of a pond, to ensure a stable water supply for his crops and sustain the farm's operations.

What role does grief play in Out of the Dust?

As one of the novel's major themes, grief plays a significant role in Out of the Dust. Karen Hesse explores this theme primarily through the deaths of Ma and Franklin. At the time of Ma's passing, Billie Jo's father is already immersed in grief over the inevitable demise of his farm; following his wife's departure, Bayard transforms into a figure of silence and resentment, casting restrained anger towards his daughter. Billie Jo, meanwhile, grieves not just the loss of her mother but the loss of the passion her mother instilled in her for playing the piano. Having sustained burns while attempting to extinguish the fire that ultimately claimed Ma's life, Billie Jo abandons the piano, a once-joyful activity that is now laden with shame and remorse. In an attempt to escape her grief, Billie Jo embarks on a boxcar journey westward. However, the trip concludes with her realization that true liberation from sorrow requires forgiveness for herself and her father, both of whom have played roles in bringing about Ma's and Franklin's deaths. Only through forgiveness can Billie Jo hope to understand her misfortune, learn to accept it, and finally move forward.

What is the significance of Ma's piano?

In Out of the Dust, Ma's piano plays a significant role as a symbol of joy. Early in the book, Billie Jo explains that her father presented the piano to Ma as a gift when they were newly married. Billie Jo takes delight in observing her otherwise-plain mother captivate Bayard with her classical piano skills. However, when colossal dust storms envelop the county, the insidious dust infiltrates the house and settles into the piano, muting the resonant sound of hammers striking the strings. This serves as a poignant symbol, illustrating how the relentless dust extinguishes any semblance of joy within the family home. In the aftermath of Ma's death, Billie Jo refrains from playing the piano, recognizing the inappropriateness of partaking in a joyful activity while she is grieving. Nevertheless, a revival of joy permeates the Kelby household as Bayard and Billie Jo solve their conflicts, both with each other and internally. Bayard takes the initiative to have Ma's piano cleaned and tuned, restoring the possibility for Billie Jo to fill the house once more with music and happiness.