The wild oat head fell out and three of the spearhead seeds stuck in the ground. And as the turtle crawled on down the embankment, its shell dragged dirt over the seeds.
– John Steinbeck
The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 3. The turtle finally succeeds in reaching the embankment on the other side of the highway. In doing so the turtle also plays its part in spreading new life. An oat beard stuck to the turtle’s shell falls to the ground and the animal drags dirt over the seeds, so giving new life to them. The turtle’s journey is a metaphor for the struggles of migrant workers like the Joads, demonstrating that adversity can be overcome with perseverance and there is hope of a new life for them in California.