This intercalary chapter is a staccato monologue delivered by a used car salesman pitching jalopies to dispossessed croppers. Steinbeck's literary technique is similar to the newsreel style popularized by his American contemporary, John Dos Passos. The rhythm suggests the franticness of the situation, a situation in which the salesman has complete control. With the speed and confidence of his words, the salesman is able to fluster and manipulate the stricken farmers, and the repetition of his spiel draws attention to the fact that this was an oft-repeated scenario. Again, this general situation will be specifically realized by the Joads — they need to purchase a car for their trek to California and are exploited by sales tactics they don't understand.
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