Chapter 16-19 (A)

The rule of that the hungry should be fed is crucial in the novel. The idea that one should help another is enforced because working together is the only way that they can live through harsh and difficult times.Without support from each other, an individual family will not be able to live through the long and dangerous journey to California. Thus, supplying each other for food at times when needed, will help everyone to be healthy and motivated. "A man with food fed a hungry man, and thus insured himself against hunger." (195)  In other words, if one feeds another person when that person is in need of food, he or she will in return, receive help at times when he or she needs it. The theme of selflessness is crucial in the novel because without each others help, everyone will not be able to go on. In addition, supporting each other, results in happiness for everyone. Altogether, the rule of feeding the hungry is obligatory because it not only helps the person who is hungry, but in addition, it results in happiness in the society. Thus, one of the rules of society, is to feed the hungry. This rule contributes to the function of the camping societies because feeding each other in times of difficulties, help the society as a whole to continue to work and be motivated. However, not all people would want to share their food with others if the food is rich and good. Thus, another rule was established to avoid such conflicts.

The rule that it is unlawful to eat good rich food near one who is hungry, unless he is asked to share, may have contributed to the function of the camping societies because the idea of equality is vital in helping each other. Similar to the the rule that the hungry should be fed, people in the camps should help feed the hungry if they can afford to. However, some humans have the instinct of saving what they have for themselves, which results in selfishness. For instance, if one had an abundance supply of food, he or she should share it with the hungry because everyone in society should be equal. Ultimately, we know that in society, if one had plentiful amount food, he or she may have a tendency to want to keep it for him or her self. This is due to the idea of worrying about his or her own survival rather than caring about others in need of help. Thus, in the camping society, if one simply wants to eat rich food that he or she has, they must share it with others. If he or she does not desire to share it with others, then he or she should not eat it in front of them. In the novel, the author describes, "Those families which were very rich or very foolish with their money ate canned beans and canned peaches and packaged bread and bakery cake; but they secretly, in their tents, for it would not have been good to eat such fine things openly". (198) Here, the author notes that there are families who rather not share rich food simply because of the idea of helping themselves comes first. This rule was created to avoid the extent of how morally wrong it is to keep everything to yourself in public. Thus, those who kept rich food for themselves, were forbidden to show it in public unless they asked to share it with the hungry.