Grapes of wrath essay with detailed sources.

Grapes of Wrath is a unique story about the Joad family, forced from their home in Oklahoma, and their journey to California in search of work and a new life only to find poverty and despair. Steinbeck fills his story with unusual but remarkable characters. Tom Joad, Ma, Pa, Rose of Sharon and Jim Casey all play a major role in the novels plot, and develop to become more tenacious and strong-minded characters. Tom Joad is Steinbecks protagonist in this novel. He starts off the movement of the book as he gets out of prison for killing a man in a bar fight. He tells the story of how he killed a drunken man at a dance. “He got a knife in me, an' I killed him with a shovel that was layin' there. Knocked his head plumb to squat.” (Chapter 4, page 25.) He feels no guilt nor shame for his actions. In chapter 6, he finds that his family and everyone has had to leave their life behind. In Chapter 8, he finds that his family is soon going to migrate to California in search of work. He greets Ma, who then asks him if hes “mad” and he assures her he is not, and that he kept his sanity by taking things one day at a time. Thats kind of how Tom seems to take everything along the storyline. (Chapter 8, page 76) He begins to show his character development when he meets the Wilsons, a family going through the same thing as them, and their car has broken down. He realizes that the only people who are going to help those that are in need, are those who are in the same situation as them, so he offers his own help. (Chapter 13, page 148) As the story continues, the con rod in the Wilsons car begins to act up. He comes up with the idea that the rest of the family should move on to California, and he and Casey should stay behind to fix the Wilsons car.(Chapter 16, page 166) For him, this is a tremendous act of selflessness and kindness. He has developed into a selfless person. His relationship with Casey helps broadened his perspective of life and the most important things of it. Throughout Grapes of Wrath he develops from a man who is only interested in his own life and desires to one who is more devoted to his family and who sacrifices his own person comfort for the benefit of others. Ma Joad, in my perspective, is who seems to hold the whole family together. Shes strong hearted, determined, and loving. “She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever really deeply waved or despaired the family would fall, the families will to function would be gone.” (Chapter 8 Page 74) She also demonstrates her physical strength and her unique sense of confidence in a story told about her (Chapter 6, page 48) when she was seen beating the hell out of chicken because he “gave her an argument”. Ma may be just as nervous about this trip as any of the other characters, but she puts up a hopeful front to her family. Whenever she was afraid, she practiced denying them in herself. (Chapter 8, page 74) Throughout the novel, she becomes the leader of the family and will not let anyone or anything come in the way of keeping her family together. She even goes to the extent of using a jack handle to prove her point, when without her consent, the family agrees to leave Tom and Casey behind to fix the Wilsons car. (Chapter 16, Page 168) At this point, she has developed into the leader of the family, stepping into Pa’s place. She changed from a woman who didn't really stand up to anything, to a woman who takes control. Pa even admits that it seems like “time has changed” and now it seems like a woman is telling everyone what to do. (Chapter 26, page 352.) In the Joads hours of darkness, Ma Joad is the light. Pa Joad is sort of the quiet one of the family, and he seems to just get quieter and quieter throughout the plot as Ma Joad takes control. He was indeed the one to plan the trip to California, with great care and consideration. He still has this sort of protectiveness over his family, but it seems he becomes weak when the family actually reaches California. His character development seems to be different than the others. It seems like he is getting weaker as a character as the others are becoming stronger. Ma realizes this, and she even reciprocates. After Pa makes a comment about how things have “changed” she reacts by telling him he isn't exactly “doing his job” either. (Chapter 26 page 352) Apparently, hardship does not always create something good in a character. .He doesn't really say or do much throughout the book, he just seems to back off and let Ma Joad take over. Rose of Sharon, seems to be a stereotypical character. Steinbeck portrays a girl who goes from high spirited, to secretive and mysterious due to her pregnancy.She smiled with secrecy. “She was all secrets now she was pregnant, secrets and little silences that seemed to have meanings. She was pleased with herself, and she complained about things that didn't really matter.” (Chapter 13, page 129) .She starts out the story with this romantic idea that her and her husband Connie will start a life in the city and she is highly dependent on others. She worries constantly about her baby and its health, and uses her mother for information. She is soon hit with a bitter realization that she is on her own when Connie suddenly disappears and all her hopes and dreams are crushed. (Chapter 20, page 268.) But soon enough, her worries disappear and replace in the health of her child. Her luck doesn't seem to get any better as she gives birth, and her child is born a “blue shrivelled little mummy.” (Chapter 30, page 444) She sees that she must accept her situation and move on. At the end of the chapter, she demonstrates her change from a selfish person to a giving person as she feeds a starving man. Even though she loses everything she was hoping for, she transforms into a much stronger character. Last but not least, Jim Casey. Jim Casey is an ex-preacher who meets with a former worshiper, Tom Joad. Jim forms a relationship with Tom, and joins his family on their trip to California. He is clearly spiritual, being a former preacher and all. He believes that “maybe all men got one big soul that everybodys a part of.”(Chapter 4, page 24) He is viewed as a christ figure, and its no coincidence Steinbeck gave him the initials J.C, also standing for Jesus Christ. He fulfils his commitment to the Joads when he takes the blame for an altercation that Tom has with a deputy. He tells the other deputies that he hit the cop and he talked back. (Chapter 20, page 266) He gladly sacrificed himself for the good of others.Casy finds this sort of purpose in his life and becomes the novel's hero, in a away. He ultimately dies fighting for the rights of migrant workers.(Chapter 26, page 386) His character prompts Toms major change into a social activist and man of the people. He leaves the story with great influence on Toms life and perspectives.His last words were a paraphrase of Chrsits last words ("Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do") when he ends his life with, "You don' know what you're a-doin." Grapes of wrath is ultimately a beautiful story of the struggles of a family in need. Each character represents a different kind of perspective and life in the time of the great depression. Steinbeck illustrates major character developments and changes that occur when a family needs all the strength it can get. The women become stronger, a man becomes weak, and other men learn to be selfless.