what is the "bad thing made by men" that the tenant farmer refers to? how does it relate to the theme of mortality ?

The bank is the "bad thing made by men."

The bank can be linked to the theme of mortality because it tears the workers away from what they have built for their families. People work to leave an inheritance (often land) to their children, this in a way makes them immortal as they've left something behind. The banks took away everything..... thus, nothing was left behind.

Source(s): The Grapes of Wrath