SOCIO-ECONOMIC FOUNDATIONS OF AGRARIAN CRISIS IN THE NOVELS THE GRAPES OF WRATH BY JOHN STEINBECK AND BETWEEN TWO DOORS BY UTKIR KHOSHIMOV

Abstract

Agrarian problems have historically been among the most significant socio-economic issues reflected in literature. The transformation of rural life under the influence of economic, political, and environmental changes has shaped the thematic focus of many literary works. In this regard, the novels of John Steinbeck and Utkir Khoshimov offer valuable insights into the condition of farmers in different socio-cultural contexts. In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck presents the agrarian crisis as a result of structural economic changes. The Great Depression, combined with ecological disasters such as the Dust Bowl, led to the displacement of thousands of farming families. The land, which once symbolized stability and identity, becomes inaccessible to its traditional owners. Banks and large agricultural corporations replace individual farmers, transforming the rural economy into a system driven by profit rather than human need.