Religion In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath is one of the most important novels ever written. The book documents the migration of the Joad family. With the Great Depression spreading through America, the Joads were forced to look for economic opportunities in California. Throughout the book, author John Steinbeck shares his view of personal spirituality and how it is the basis for an improved society. He presents to us a man with bold new ideas, a foreshadowing of the rough road ahead, and the all-cleansing power of disaster and hardship in this complex American classic.

In the novel, the characters and events symbolize the themes presented in Christianity. An example would be Jim Casy, a former preacher who stopped preaching for he had sinned. He accompanies the Joad family to their journey to California, and even though he insists he isn't a preacher anymore, he continues to preach the Joad family.
It represents a refresh, a change not only on the surface, but within. Rose of Sharon's attitude towards the end of her pregnancy contrasts with her earlier slew of complaints and whining. She realizes that she, just like everyone else, needs to help. When Al announces his engagement, she leaves as to not burden her family and bring down the celebration. She insists on working in the fields even though she is nearly due, and she sacrifices her humility to feed a starving man. She has a realization because of the violent events around her, and the flood is Steinbeck's way of creating a physical manifestation of this cleansing; it is a purge of the land and mind.

Through The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck conveys the importance of self exploration and individual spirituality. He weaves a tale through which the reader sees both the external hardships and the internal journeys of the book's casts. His success at delivering his message while keeping the book realistic and entertaining is what truly earns this book its place in