Why does the interchapter of Chapter Twenty-three stress the pleasures of the migrants?

It is important for the reader understand that even in times of devastating hardship the migrants looked for ways to distract themselves from their plight. Their pleasures were few, but they did what they could to amuse each other; they told stories, sang, danced, and did the best they could to be a community. Unfortunately, some people also drank themselves to distraction.