Tom was born into a poorly educated peasant family. Preparing the necessary items for him to go to California. The uneducated character is shown a bit during the first few chapters as both he and his father are said to know how to write and neither of them knew, causing Tom to return home not knowing what happened. Tom's lack of education is also reflected in the way he speaks, this has a big impact on who he is and what he can become, language plays a big role in how people show/present themselves to others. Tom is considered an "okie", this causes him to have some problems that only an "okie" would have, such as the police being cruel and unfair to them in the camps. Being an "okie" was something some would be disgraced for, this is how the cops and citizens of the cities only saw people trying to take over their jobs and homes. While in reality they would not have emigrated if it had not been completely necessary. Also being an "okie" makes you less American or human to be treated this way