Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath

Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck is an author known worldwide for his compelling stories and novels. One such novel is The Grapes of Wrath. This novel was written to expose the plight of those dispossessed from their lands by the Great Depression. Steinbeck uses several literary elements to help relate the story to the reader. In The Grapes of Wrath, as in his other works, Steinbeck relies on the use of symbolism to strengthen and enhance the plot.

By far, the most involved example of symbolism is found in the character of the preacher, Jim Casy. Casy not only is a Christ figure but also embodies the belief of Transcendentalism. These are supported by many examples throughout the story. Some of these examples are easily noticed, others require more thought to be understood. The symbolism found in Jim Casy does a great deal to bring together the events that make up the story.

That Casy is a Christ figure can be shown in several ways. One obvious (or perhaps not as obvious as it may seem) similarity between Casy and Christ is that they share the same...

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... York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 35-62.

Lojek, Helen. "Jim Casy: Politico of the New Jerusalem." Steinbeck Quarterly, Winter-Spring 1982. 30-37.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1978.

Wallsten, Robert and Steinbeck, Elaine. Steinbeck: A Life in Letters. New York: The Viking Press, 1975.

The New American Bible, Gospel of John. 23:34. New York: The Catholic Press, 1976.

Goetz, Philip (Editor in Chief). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 1987. Vol 11, 894.

Steinbeck 's Biblical Allusion in The Grapes of Wrath

A popular literary technique that can be found in a number of literary works is the biblical allusion. John Steinbeck perfects this technique in his novel The Grapes of Wrath by introducing a character who is symbolic of Jesus Christ. This character, Jim Casy, not only shares initials with this biblical figure, but he also grows thoughout the novel as a speaker, a mediator, an organizer, and, most remarkably, a martyr.

At the advent of the novel, Jim Casy is quick to protest that he is no longer a preacher. Nevertheless, evidence of his innate speaking ability is brought forth when he explains his thoughts and ideas to Tom. For example, Casy remarks that “maybe there’s jus one but soul an everyone’s a part of it,” immediately foreshadowing his future decision to unite with other migrant workers. Casy’s allusion to Jesus Christ serves as the force behind Tom’s character as it changes throughout the novel from self-absorbed to one who thinks about the future and what he can do to help. Also, Casy utilizes his organizational skills when he unites some of his fellow “reds”, and they discuss the changes that need to be made. In this very scene of the novel, deputies begin to harass the men and Casy cries out, “You don’t know what you’re doing. You’re helpin’ to starve children.” This is the final stage of Casy’s symbolism to Jesus he is killed while preaching what he believes and therefore becomes a martyr for all the migrant workers.

Casy’s symbolic death can be easily predicted. At one point he goes as far as telling Tom that “there’s gonna be sumthin dat changes the whole country” “Not no one knows bout it yet, but they will.” Clearly, Steinbeck created this biblically alluded character for a certain purpose - to plant the concept of unity among the migrant people.

Comments
I agree that you have done well with this essay and it is not easy to find fault with it. However, you might look at the following sentence: "Casy’s allusion to Jesus Christ serves as the force behind Tom’s character as it changes throughout the novel from self-absorbed to one who thinks about the future and what he can do to help." In this sentence there is a problem with common references to "character" and the implied person of Tom. In other words, character does not equal Tom grammatically speaking or logically, for that matter. Tom 's character has to be seen as a subset of Tom in mathematical terms. I hope you see my point.

The Character of Casey in The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck passionately describes a time of unfair poverty, unity, and the human spirit growth in the classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath. The novel tells of real, diverse characters that experience growth through turmoil and hardship. Jim Casy, a personal favorite character, is an ex-preacher that meets with a former worshiper, Tom Joad. Casy continues a relationship with Tom and the rest of the Joads as they embark on a journey to California with the hopes of prosperity. Casy represents how the many situations in life impact the ever-changing souls of human beings and the search within to discover one 's true identity and beliefs. Casy, however, was much more complex than the average individual. His unprejudiced, unified, Christ-like existence twists and turns with every mental and extraneous disaccord. Jim Casy is an interesting, complicated man. He can be seen as a modern day Christ figure, except without the tending manifest belief in the Christian faith. The initials of his name, J.C., are the same as those of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus was exalted by many for what he stood for and was supposed to be, Casy was hailed and respected by many for simply being a preacher. Casy and Jesus both saw a common goodness in the average man and saw every person as holy. Both Christ and Casy faced struggles between their ideals and the real world. Despite Casy 's honesty, goodness, and loyalty to all men, he would not earn a meal or warm place to stay. Although Jesus had many followers, still others opposed his preaching until the very end. These prophets attempted to disengage man from the cares of the world and create a high spiritualism that stemmed joy from misery. All the migrants found pleasures along their trips and kept their hope and spirit throughout the journey. Thanks to Jesus, the saddest, dullest existence has had its glimpse of Heaven. Casy once remarked, I gotta see them folks that 's gone out on the road. I gotta feelin ' I got to see them. They gonna need help no preachin ' can give 'em. Hope of heaven when their lives ain 't lived? Holy Sperit when their own sperit is downcast an ' sad?" (page #) Casy wished to reach out to others in spite of his own troubles. He wanted to give them sprit; hope and he wanted to rejuvenate their souls. Jesus too felt that need and can be considered "the great consoler of life."

The Life of Jesus by Ernest Renan tells of Pure Ebionism, which is the doctrine that the poor alone shall be saved and the reign of the poor is approaching. This secures a definite parallel between Jesus Christ and not only Jim Casy, but the entire book, TheGrapes of Wrath. The rich people, banks, owners, and institutions have taken control of the country and nature, but as the book says, "And the association of owners knew that some day the praying would stop. And there 's an end" (author’s last name and page #). This means that these people will always carry on. One day they will take action. There will be a fight and quite possibly an end to the misfortune and a reign of prevailing prosperity. Christ once said, "When thou makest a dinner or supper, call not...thy rich neighbors...But when thou makes a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed.” John Steinbeck and Jim Casy along with many other migrants believe in charity, helping others and an end to the insatiable appetite for money and self-indulgence. When Casy is saying grace in chapter eight, he compares himself to Jesus: "I been in the hills, thinkin ', almost you might say like Jesus wen into the wilderness to think His way out of troubles." Casy was beginning to feel confused, troubled and stressful about his faith, but when he went into the wilderness and rediscovered nature, he was a new man with a new found faith. (Eventually Christ was no longer a Jew and strayed from the traditional Hebrew idea of God. Casy 's beliefs did not precisely follow Christianity.) Like Christ, Casy was jailed and later aroused the antagonism of the people in authority. He was brutally slain. He died, like Christ saying to his crucifiers, "You don ' know what you 're a-doin." Therefore, Jim Casy was similar to Jesus Christ and his personality traits did not end there. Jim Casy 's personality is one of the most un-provincial, non-judgmental in the world. He believes that every one is created equal no matter what their physical differences, political class, or position in the world might be. He demonstrates this by never uttering a hurtful word at anyone, sacrificing his own welfare to picket and raise the wages of other workers, and not faltering when he or his group mates were called derogatory names. Jim Casy was forever grateful to the Joads for travelling with him and talked of going off by himself to pay them back several times. He once said, "I wanna do what 's bes ' for you folks. You took me in, carried me along. I 'll do whatever." Casy never asked for money while he was preaching because he knew the position his listeners were in, even though he also was desperate for money. Casy said in chapter four, "I brang Jesus to your folks for a long time, an ' I never took up a collection nor nothin ' but a bite to eat." Since Casy believes that we all have a small part of a larger soul, and everybody is holy, we are therefore equal. As Tom said, "one time he went out in the wilderness to find his soul, an ' he foun ' he jus ' got a little piece of a great big soul" (author’s name and page #). He was once and for all stating equality and universal holiness.

Casy is also a harmonious man. He believes in unity and he believes that, because people are all part of something greater than themselves, we should help one another out. He believes that we should work together because otherwise we are all lost. "Why do we got to hang it all on God or Jesus? Maybe, ' I figgered, 'maybe it 's all men an ' all women we love: maybe that 's the Holy Sperit- the human sperit- the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever 'body 's a part of". He thinks that people working in cooperation is holy: "When they 're all workin ' together, not one fella for another fell, but one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang -- that 's right, that 's holy." Tom once said that Casy recited to him Ecclesiastes 4:

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Tom Joad also said, "maybe like Casy says, a fella ain 't got a soul of his own, but on 'y a piece of a big one. ... I 'll be ever 'where—wherever you look."

Casy was a Christ-like, unprovincial, and harmonious man albeit he still had personal conflicts. Although Jim Casy has always seemingly been a man of God and Jesus, he battles with his faith throughout The Grapes of Wrath. He feels like he is contending with the very ideals he has spread to others: traditional ideals of God and Jesus. Casy started to question his own beliefs and what was said in the Bible. He lost many hours of sleep just thinking about this, and went through many days without even speaking. He began to have doubts about God, Jesus, and the afterlife altogether. He went from a man of God to a man of everyone. Casy once said,"An I says, 'Don 't you love Jesus? ' Well, I thought an ' thought an ' finally I says, 'No, I don 't know nobody name ' Jesus. I know a bunch of stories, but I only love people. ' " After Casy challenged his inner belief of God and Jesus, he began to openly accept and tolerate unorthodox behavior. In fact some of Casy 's new beliefs not only questioned the basic belief in God and Jesus, but also the content of the Bible and what a regular preacher (or ex-preacher) would say or do. Casy felt you should not judge anyone but yourself, where as the Bible openly condemns certain situations, labels, sexual orientation, behavior, and practices. Casy believes you should do what you feel and doesn 't believe in right or wrong. Casy once said, "I didn ' even know it when I was preachin ', but I was doin ' some consid 'able tom-cattin ' around." He told of times when he lacked responsibility, filled girls up with the Holy Spirit by his preaching and then continually took them out with him to "lay in the grass." He once said, "There ain 't no sin and there ain 't no virtue. There 's just stuff people do. It 's all part of the same thing. And some of the things folks do is nice, and some ain 't nice, but that 's as far as any man got a right to say." A hedonistic moral code that tells of pleasure before rules and presumes to deny punishment is highly unusual for a one-time preacher. Casy struggled with his personal inner faith, and also his actions and speeches that defied what a regular man of the faith would do. The inner being of Jim Casy was evolving and furthermore conflicting as he metamorphosed from a man of thought to a man of action. Towards the beginning of the book, Casy spent many a night sleep- deprived and many a day mute, philosophizing to himself. "Say, Casy, you been awful goddamn quiet the las ' few days...you ain 't said ten words the las ' couple days, " Tom said. Even Casy himself had trouble speaking "Now look, Tom. Oh what the hell! So goddamn hard to say anything." He remarked early in the book,

There 's stuff goin ' on an ' they 's folks doin ' things...An ' if ya listen, you 'll hear...res 'lessness. They 's stuff goin ' on that these folks is doin ' that don 't know nothin ' about- yet. They 's gonna come somepin outa all these folks goin ' wes '...They 's gonna come a thing that 's gonna change the whole country.

Later in the book Casy stops predicting "a thing" and takes part of this revolution by striking outside a peach-picking plant. He had spent a lot of time pondering the environment at hand, but he finally turned his anti- authority feelings into physical actions when he kicked a cop, causing trouble in Hooverville. Casy later goes on to spontaneously take the blame for the fight and was sent to jail, sacrificing his own well being for others.

On top of Casy 's struggles with himself, he also faced exterior conflicts with the rest of the world. Jim Casy encountered conflicts between himself and the rest of society. He attempted to organize the migrants but saw great difficulty. After Casy was let out of jail he and other wise men picketed outside a peach-picking camp for higher wages. Although he managed to organize those few men, and too keep the wages at a reasonable price while on strike, he could not persuade the others inside the workplace to join him. "Tell 'em [the people who are picking peaches] they 're starvin ' us an ' stabbin ' theirselves in the back. 'Cause sure as cowflops she 'll drop to two an ' a half jus ' as soon as they clear us out," Casy said, referring to the fact that unless the people in the camp did something (like went on strike) they would “stab themselves in the back” because the wages would eventually go back down. However, the people in the camp only cared about the five dollars they were making at the time and nothing else. Casy 's attempts at organizing failed not only because the people cared specifically for what was happening at the present time, but also because they were afraid to organize. As soon as there is a recognized leader cops throw him in jail or threaten him. People put the migrants down and used derogatory terms to attempt to control them. Society wanted to keep the migrants moving, leaving it impossible for them to organize. For example, there was once a man who started to unite the people in jail. Later the very people he was trying to help threw him out, afraid of being seen in his company. His attempts at uniting failed eternally when he told a cop he was starving children and the cop smashed his skull with a board.

Jim Casy encountered more external difficulties when he crosses paths with cops. In chapter 20, Floyd, John, Tom and Casy have a physical fight with a deputy. In an unrelated incident, an officer threatened to set fire to the camp Casy 's friends were staying at. While Casy was trying to organize some men, cops were continually breaking them down. “We tried to camp together, an ' they [cops] druv us like pigs. Scattered us. Beat the hell outa fellas. Druv us like pigs...We can 't las ' much longer. Some people ain 't et for two days,"said Casy. "Cops cause more trouble than they stop," Casy also mentioned. Thus is a man who has seen animosity and enmity and has not been afraid.

In conclusion, Jim Casy is a rather Christ-like, harmonious, unprovincial, and somewhat realistic character who has faced the challenges of organization, authority, his own faith, reception from others, and his own ever- changing personality. This man can be looked at as both a martyr, ethical, sacred individual, and yet ironically "Okie", hobo, or virtue-less bum. However, The Grapes of Wrath and Jim Casy are undisputed symbols of hope, dreams, spirit and the oneness of all humanity. In my personal opinion, Jim Casy is a role model to anyone who aspires to think original thoughts. I find his defiance of organized religion thought-provoking and inspiring. His ideas of nature are prophetic and his selfless love of people beautiful. Jim Casy 's essence of understanding, dreams, love, hope and belief in an almighty holiness can be summed up in one quote:

An ' Almighty God never raised no wages. These here folks want to live decent and bring up their kids decent. An ' when they 're old they wanta set in the door an ' watch the downing sun. An ' when they 're young they wanta dance an ' sing an ' lay together. They wanta eat an ' get drunk and work. An ' that 's it- they wanta jus ' fling their goddamn muscles aroun ' an ' get tired.

Hope and Endurance in The Grapes of Wrath
John Steinbeck published The Grapes of Wrath in response to the Great Depression. Steinbeck 's intentions were to publicize the movements of a fictional family affected by the Dust Bowl that was forced to move from their homestead. Also a purpose of Steinbeck 's was to criticize the hard realities of a dichotomized American society.

The Great Depression was brought about through various radical economic practices and greatly affected the common man of America. Although all Americans were faced with the same fiscal disparity, a small minority began to exploit those in distress. Along the trek westward from Oklahoma, the Joad family met a grand multitude of adversity. However, this adversity was counteracted with a significant amount ofendurance exhibited by the Joads and by generalized citizens of America.

A magnanimous amount of motivation for the tenant farmers was generally found in the self, in an individualistic manner. As "gentle (winds) followed the rain clouds," furthering the magnitude of the dust storms, the survival of the farmers and their families soon became doubtful. The men would sit in "the doorways of their houses; their hands were busy with sticks and little rocks... (as they) sat still--thinking--figuring." The adversity represented by the weather was hindered by the idea that man could triumph over nature--over the machine--and retain a sense of self-identity.

Another sense of the attempt to retain a moralistic self-identity and persevere through the obstacles present was the reaction had by the tenant farmers when forced to move off their land. Standing in conflict with "the cat,"--the destroyer of lands--or the tractor, the farmers began to correlate their problems with one another. Although conjuring up incoherent manifestations of violence to counteract the machine, several grand ideas of enduring nature were developed. Among which existed the idea of traveling west to California, despite the closure of the frontier. The tenant farmers continued to endure by self-motivation, "we got to figure...there 's some way to stop this...it 's not like lightning or earthquakes...we 've got a thing made by men, and by God that 's something we can change."

The idea of traveling west to evade the economic conundrums of Oklahoma was patent in the Joad family. Upon the release of Tom Joad from prison (who had been sentenced to seven years for manslaughter, but received parole), the family reunited and began the trek west. Al, brother to Tom, asked his mother if she were worried about the possible outcomes of the trip, and what could take place on the road. To this she responded with a religious connotation, evidence of endurance laced with religion as a sign of hope, "You 'll be glad a that preacher `fore we 're through...that preacher 'll help us..." Not only did Americans respond to the Great Depression with signs of individual endurance, a stronger focus on religion was effected to bring optimism.

Motivation also came from fellow farmers and "migrant men" affected by the recession. Tom, with the family car stopped at a gas station, met an attendant that had but only one eye. The one-eyed attendant began to complain of the migrants that begged for gas and of those that ran rampant without, and placed the blame on his eye. Tom responded that the only way to immunize such a condition was for the individual to take an action against it. Also, upon hearing masochist comments from Al concerning the gas station attendant, Tom castigated Al by saying, "Wanta be a hell of a guy all the time...but, goddamnit, Al, don ' keep ya guard up when nobody ain 't sparrin ' with ya..." The idea of endurance was catalyzed by various actions among tenant farmers. Were it constructive criticism aimed at inspiration or castratory remarks aimed at a fellow cohort, they served to further humanity through the intermingling of society.

Affluent landowners in California also attempted to cripple the migrant exodus. This included the mistreatment of migrant men and the repression and discrimination against such. This repression led to bitter resentment towards the oligopoly of landowners that controlled the symbolic vindication of the migrant men. Natural resources began to dwindle, such as the spoiling of wine in vineyards. These predicaments presented to the migrant men served a dual purpose--not only did they superficially benefit the oligopoly, it built up resentment among the farmers. "In the souls of the people, the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." The growing resentment was a profound example of the growing endurance among American farmers during the Great Depression.

The most significant exhibition of endurance from the Joad family came in the actions of Tom Joad. Jim Casy, a former preacher that accompanied the Joads on their exodus, was arrested for attacking a police officer during a labor riot (in which Joad was the actual guilty party). However, Joad later discovered Casy working to organize the migrant workers in a tent located at a peach farm. Casy explained to Joad several unfair labor practices in effect at the camp. During this meeting, two chauvinistic policemen accused Casy of being a "communist" and kill Casy with the collision of a pick-ax to his head. Joad is greatly affected by this incident and this serves as the foundation of his final endurance. Attempting to provide a sense of hope for the migrant workers, Joad departs from his family to resume Casy 's job of organizing the farmers, saying "I 'll be ever 'where--wherever you look. Wherever they 's a fight so hungry people can eat, I 'll be there. Wherever they 's a cop beatin ' up a guy, I 'll be there...an ' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an ' live in the houses they build--why, I"ll be there."

The exploitation of "Okies" continued but was haltered by unions and organizations such as those Tom Joad planned to lead. Being faced with several accounts of adversity coming not only from the national and eventually global economic depression, the farmers of America had only one chance to subsist, and that was to maintain a sense of endurance. This sense was evident in several actions of the Joad family during their trek to California and the actions taken by general farmers of America as their "grapes of wrath (began) ...growing heavy for the vintage."

Finding Hope in The Grapes of Wrath

Having watched the movie "Grapes of Wrath", I have been given the opportunity to see the troubles that would have befell migrant workers during the Great Depression. Though the Joads were a fictitious family, I was able to identify with many signs of hope that they could hold onto. Some of these families who made the journey in real life carried on when all they had was hope. The three major signs of hope which I discovered were, overcoming adversity, finding jobs, and completing the journey.

The Joad family members were facing hardships from the beginning. Before the journey, Tom Joad had been in prison and that was a downer to everyone. In the scenes of overcoming this problem, Tom was released and his family was so excited and full of joy to see him. Before they could celebrate too much, they found themselves having to leave the land that most of them were born on, raised on and labored for. They decided that as shady as it was to be forced off their own land, the drought had shattered any hopes of prospering from it anyway. With the hope of a better life out in California and a flyer that said pickers needed, they set out for the proclaimedpromised land.

The trip had proved to much for Grandpa Joad early on and he passed away. As depressing as that was for the remaining Joads, they pressed on. They knew they needed to make it to California to have a better life and that hope empowered them. Vehicle trouble, low food and not much support from people they passed was not enough to make them give up.

Once they made it across the desert and into California, they were surprised to see that they were among thousands of migrant families looking for jobs. They got into a scuff with the local authority in a Hooverville where they were encamped. The former preacher was arrested. Although it didn 't go through, the scuff began with a job proposition. The Joads left that night and in the morning, they ran into an orchard where they could make fifty cents a basket picking peaches. This brought hope to the Joads because it was a start. They even met back up with the old preacher. Trouble came knocking before too long there also and it was at the expense of the preacher 's life.

They packed up and headed out in hopes of finding another job. It is a good sign of hope that the Joads haven 't been in California very long and they already have had two job opportunities. The Joads get word of a government run sight where they could stay and work. The facilities there were luxurious to an extent as well. The Joads had found their place. When you have next to nothing you find hope in the little things.

My final object of hope is the plane fact that they made it to California. They left their homes in a beat up overweighed truck, ten people, barely enough food, a couple hundred dollars, and 2,000 miles ahead of them. They lost three people getting there, they faced break downs and run ins with the authorities, and they made it. They did it all with the power of hope.

In conclusion, the Joads were a close knit family who believed they could start anew in California. They hoped that a better life awaited them to the west. With hope in their hearts they completed the journey. It can be said that in overcoming their trials, finding jobs and crossing that California border all their hopes were fulfilled.

A Subtle Metamorphosis in The Grapes of Wrath
The spirit of unity emerges as the one unfailing source of strength in John Steinbeck¹s classic The Grapes of Wrath. As the Joad family¹s world steadily crumbles, hope in each other preserves the members¹ sense of pride, of courage, and of determination. A solitary man holds a grim future; with others to love and be loved by, no matter how destitute one is materially, life is rich. This selflessness is not immediate, however; over the course of the book several characters undergo a subtle metamorphosis.

A recently paroled Tom Joad makes his first encounter with altruism as he attempts to hitchhike with a trucker whose employer has outlawed the practice. When the trucker points out the "No Riders" (11) sign his truck carries, Tom replies, "ŒBut sometimes a guy¹ll be a good guy even if some rich bastard makes him carry a sticker.¹" (11) Steinbeck has cleverly cornered the man by utilizing a tool often implemented in Depression-era literature: the classification of the guilty rich as anonymous, thus convincing the trucker that he is "not one whom any rich bastard could kick around." (11) Still, this generous gesture is caused by shame and guilt, not by an independent moral factor.

The notion of a collective spirit is explored when Tom meets the former preacher, Casy. Casy has given up classical religion because it lacks pragmatism and overemphasizes escapism. In a thesis statement that is repeated several times, he says, "ŒMaybe it¹s all men and women we love; maybe that¹s the Holy Sperit‹the human speritŠMaybe all men got one big soul and ever¹body¹s a part of.¹" (33) At this early point, though, Tom remains skeptical. "Joad¹s eyes dropped to the ground, as though he could not meet the naked honesty in the preacher¹s eyes. ŒYou can¹t hold no church with idears like that.¹" (33)

Sharing is developed more when Tom, taking Casy under his wing, runs across an old friend, Muley. Though a vagrant, he has freshly killed rabbits in possession. Steinbeck shows the crossover to unconscious unity as Casy asks Muley if he¹ll share: "ŒI ain¹t got no choice in the matterŠwhat I mean, if a fella¹s got somepin to eat and another fella¹s hungry‹why, the first fella ain¹t got no choice.¹" (66)

Banding together in organized efforts is an elusive goal rarely achieved in the novel. Characters dream of unions at several points: "ŒIf we was all mad the same way, Tommy‹they wouldn¹t hunt nobody down‹¹" (104) Ma says to calm an irate Tom, and is later reiterated by Tom in reference to a strike: "ŒWell, s¹pose them people got together an¹ says, ŒLet Œem rot.¹ Wouldn¹t be long Œfore the price went up, by God!¹" (336) These ideas are shot down as unattainable, and remain unrealized until the Joads enter the self-governed commune. Synergy is the main theme there; Tom puts it best while digging a ditch: "ŒA pick is a nice tool, if you don¹ fight it. You an¹ the pick workin¹ together.¹" (407) This strikes a contrast with the description of the tractors plowing the land: "The land bore under iron, and under iron gradually died; for it was not loved and hated, it had no prayers or curses." (49) Just as people must work together, humans and the land must exist in harmony to survive.

The movement towards unconscious altruism occurs on the trip west. Meeting the Wilson family, Ma reassures them that their tagging along "Œwon¹t be no burden. Each¹ll help each, an¹ we¹ll all git to California.¹ŠThe relationship was plain." (202) Still, at this young stage there must be reciprocity to justify the altruism. When Ma reveals that she sat alone with the dead body of her mother through the night, she explains simply, "ŒThe fambly hadda get acrost.¹" (312) She made a sacrifice without thought, carrying out a deed that caused her nothing but pain but was necessary for the betterment of others.

The final scene is the ultimate in sincere charity. Rose of Sharon is selfish throughout most of the trip, especially when it comes to milk for her unborn baby. When Winfield needs milk to regain strength, she pouts, "I ain¹t had no milk. I oughta have some." (543) After delivering a stillborn baby, the family happens upon a starving man. She doesn¹t need to be prodded into breast-feeding him; "the two woman [Ma and Rose] looked deep into each other" (618) is all the interaction necessary. Her symbolic gesture of looking past her own worries to aid another, of giving of herself to inject another with life, of placing the nutrients designed for a relative into the body of a stranger, is a fitting way to end the book. That she "smiled mysteriously" (619) at this action means she has gained the knowledge Casy spoke of at the beginning of the book, proving that even the most selfish have room for redemption.

Power of Women in The Grapes of Wrath
Women are known for as holding families together. When times get rough women are the foundation to the family and help keep things together. A woman poses different qualities that can help keep the family strong. These qualities can be categorized in the four archetypes of a woman. The idea of the woman Archetype is presented by Carl Jung. The first being Mother Nature, the very physical aspect and the second is the virgin, which represents the spiritual aspect of the archetype. The third is the young which who is the physical state while the fourth is the old witch possessing the spiritual side of the woman archetype. The four women in John Steinbecks, The Grapes of Wrath represent these four archetypes and take on responsibilities that in the end help the family succeeds in achieving their dreams.

Ma Joad is a woman of strength and hope who is the backbone of the family. She represents the Mother Nature archetype while she posses the physical aspect of guiding the family and staying strong when the family needs her most. Steinbecks shows the importance of ma 's character by the syntax usage to describe ma. " Ma was heavy, but not fat; thick with child-bearing and work...her ankles, and her strong, broad, bare feet moved quickly and deftly over the floor", Ma is described with these features to show her strength as a mother who has control and survives through hard situations (95). Her 'bare feet ' being close to the earth shows how she takes on a 'Mother Nature ' archetype to her character. She is one with the earth just as Mother Nature is. Mother Nature is one that gives birth, produces, sustains life and nurtures her family. All of these archetypes are expressed in ma 's character.

Even though she is a very strong woman she knows her role in the family. Ma knows when it is her time to help the family and when it is appropriate to step back and let the father run things. It is an unsaid statement but known by all in the family that "ma was powerful in the group" and they look to her for important decision making (133). She is looked to for guidance and decisions so the family looks to her on how to react to situations. If mom is unhappy then the family is unhappy. When ma is upset you know something is wrong. Ma understands this concept and knows that she must control her reactions and emotions. Ma 's "...full face was not soft; it was controlled kindly" because she knows she is the role model in her family. When Tom left to go to jail, she had to control her real feelings toward missing him because she doesn 't want the family to be upset as well. Al explains to Tom "she mourned when you was gone. Done it all to herself. Kinda cryin ' down inside of her through. We could tell what she was thinkin ' about, though" they knew how she was felling even though she tried to hide it (227). All ma wants to see is that her family live in happiness. But it 's hard for a mother to accomplish this when it 's not in her control. The hardest thing for a mother to do is let her children make their own decisions and live their own lives. Ma shows her true character in the final scene where she lets Rose of Sharon make her own decision:

Ma 's eyes passed Rose of Sharon 's eyes, and then came back to them. And the two women looked deep into each other. The girl 's breath came short and gasping. She said, 'Yes. ' Ma smiled. ' I knowed you would. I knowed! ' (580).

Ma is able to sit back and let Rose of Sharon decide for herself to give up part of herself to help another. There is nothing ma can do but sit with "...her hands, tight- locked in her lap" because she knows it is something Rose of Sharon has to decide (580). Ma because of this helps make an influence on her daughter, by showing her the mothers ' duties in life to let their children learn from their own decisions and mistakes.

Rose of Sharon is a young woman seeking guidance and council. She very much represents the virgin, one who lacks experience and constantly learning how to be a proper mother from ma and will eventually be able to be wise enough to make her own decisions. She is one that carries life and will be able to impact others around her by her actions. Rose of Sharon not only carries life in her uterus but as well as a person. She stands spiritually as a Christ like figure. We see this foreshadowing of her Christ -like attributes as her hair represents a some what halo on her head as if a biblical allusion to Christ, " Her hair, braided and wrapped around her head, made an ash-blonde crown" (123). She sees things in the eyes of new life and reproduction, " ... the world was

pregnant to her" and with this pregnancy she is able to see and understand things that others may not (123). When one is in need she able to put others before herself and give life to someone in need. She couldn 't give life to her baby, and feels that being able to give life to another, could make up for the lost life. "Her hand moved behind his head and supported it...She looked up and across the barn, and her lips came together and smiled mysteriously" she is satisfied that she is able to help give life to another person in need because that is her goal in life (581). Just as Christ did she is able to give up a part of herself for others benefit a decision she made on her own that shows her true maturity level that she has gained from experiences like these.

Just as Rose of Sharon grew from Ma 's example, so does Ruthie. She is the ' Young Witch ' archetype who is very much physical. She is a young girl going through puberty that is trying to find her place in this world. She is young and inexperienced, trying to soak up as much knowledge as she can from her older examples. She is stuck between maturing and staying a child. "Ruthie felt the might, the responsibility, and the dignity of her developing breasts..." her body is maturing but she still has a child-like vision. She wants to be accepted as a maturing young adult but her actions contradict her desires. When given little responsibility she feels important and feels like she can be trusted with important information that affects the family. "Ruthie nodded and turned her head away, and her eyes were little girl eyes", she gets so excited but does not want Tom to see her reaction because she wants to be looked at maturely, like she can handle the responsibility; but in reality her response is that of a child 's (375). Ruthie grows to mature through her older examples and is slowly maturing into a young adult.

The last archetype is the 'Old Witch ' which qualities are possed by grandma. She is the most experienced of the group and carries the most knowledge. She is a spiritual being who tries to help guide and direct. She sets the example for the other women to follow. But when her husband dies she feels she has lost everything. She not only has lost her husband but she has lost her land, her past and a place that held all her memories of her with her husband. When he passes away she starts to go crazy. She feels she has no purpose in life if he 's not around for her to please. She cannot get past his death and feels there is no other way but for her to die. She stops fighting for her life and dies after he dies. She is the 'Old Witch ' who spiritually survived off grandpas ' existence and now has no reason to live, but her spirit still continues to stay with the Joad family.

Through all these hardships the Joad family is able to make it to California and survive as a family. Maybe not the way they dreamed, but at lease they made it together. When all lost hope, Ma was there to comfort and lead. When there was death there was the reassurance that things would work out and that they needed to press on. When one life ended another was started, and when situations were at their worst, there came a helping hand and were saved. These women are the foundation to the Joad family and help them successfully live their dream to make it to California. Without these four women possessing these archetypes they may have never made it as a family, with such hope and dreams as they did.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
What does it take for one to achieve the American dream? What kinds of struggles does one need to overcome to achieve their goals in life? In the classic novel The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, you can follow the Joad family in the pursuit to their dreams and the difficulties they faced and overcame. The Joad family faced numerous conflicts including; men, society, nature, and him/herself but overcame many to keep pushing them towards their dream; to go to California and find a better life.
The first and most obvious conflict the Joad family faces in the beginning of the novel is the ongoing struggle with nature. Beginning the novel is a description of the "Dust Bowl" and the families trying to work the land and make a living. The Joad family 's home and land is taken away because they cannot grow any crop during the drought and are forced from their home by the bank. This is when they decide to move west to California and find work and a better life there.
Ironically, it is also at the end of the novel when they face another battle with a different kind of nature. Rain begins to flood California, forcing the Joad 's to fight for their lives. It is Pa that has the idea to fight off the flood waters from reaching their home. " Pa squatted in the doorway. " Coming up fast," he said. "I think we oughta go talk to the other fellas. See if they 'll help ditch up."" ( 594; ch. 29) It is Pa 's quick thinking that saves the family for awhile, but in the end, nature wins.
"The stream eddied and boiled against the bank. Then, from up the stream there came a ripping crash. The beam of the flashlight showed a great cottonwood toppling.
The men stopped to watch. The branches of the tree sank into the water and edged around with the current while the stream dug out the little roots. Slowly the tree was freed, and slowly it edged down the stream. The weary men watched, their mouths hanging open. The tree moved slowly down. Then a branch caught on a stump, snagged and held. And very slowly the roots swung around and hooked themselves on the new embankment. The water piled up behind. The tree moved and tore the bank. A little stream slipped through. Pa threw himself forward and jammed mud in the break. The water piled against the tree. And then the bank washed quickly down, washed around ankles, around knees. The men broke and ran, and the current worked smoothly into the flat, under cars, under automobiles" (601; ch. 29).
When looking for each of our dreams we all will need to face society at one time or another. Once the Joad 's reached California, along with thousands of other families looking for work, the society shunned them and called them "Okies." These people were hated by all natives and were treated poorly by them once reaching California.
"The owners hated them. And in the towns, the storekeepers hated them because they had no money to spend. There is no shorter path to a store-keeper 's contempt, and all his admirations are exactly opposite. The town men, little bankers, hated Okies because there was nothing to gain from them. And the laboring people hated Okies because a hungry man must work, and if he must work, if he has to work, the wage payer automatically gives him less for his work; and then no one can get more." ( 318, ch.19) With his much hatred facing the Joad family, it was difficult to find work and to fit in.
When the society the Joad 's lived in was against them, there was bound to be many conflicts between the Joad 's and an individual making things difficult for all Okies. "The deputy swung about. " 'F you 'd like to go in too, you jus ' open our trap once more. They was two fellas hangin ' around that lot." " I wasn 't even in the State las ' week," Tom said. " Well, maybe you 're wanted someplace else. You keep your trap shut"" (360; ch.20). It is during this situation when an individual is trying to get Tom into some trouble and threatened him because he hated Okies. The family is faced with many situations such as this one by the natives in California.
The hardest conflict every family member had to overcome was the conflict with themselves. Steinbeck describes the fears and conflicts within each family member through-out the novel, but perhaps the most trouble individual is Uncle John. Uncle John struggles through-out the journey with the death of his wife. Feeling that the death was his fault and having his sins hand over his head troubles Uncle John immensely. "Uncle John said slowly, "It ain 't only the keepin ' her out. I kep ' her out to get drunk. I knownd they was gonna come a time when I got to get drunk, when I 'd get to hurtin ' inside so I got to get drunk"" (367; ch. 20). Dealing with the pain through drinking is the only way Uncle John knows how to overcome his conflict within himself.
Although we do not know how successful the Joad family was in find their American dream, we can follow their lives and the struggles they faced to get them as far as they had done. We all will find a little piece of the Joad family as we find ourselves facing the same conflicts when chasing our dreams; the struggle against nature, society, man, and him/herself.
The Struggle in The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is a story about life in the great depression. Steinbeck tells the story through the Joad family and how they struggle to survive. Also he has short chapters about the background and what was going on outside of the Joads.

In the beginning of the book Tom, the second eldest son, is hitch hiking back home from McAlester, the prison. He was just paroled from a murder sentence after spending about four years in jail. When he gets off of the truck he runs into thepreacher, Casy. The only thing different is that Casy is no longer a preacher and has not been around for a long time either. He left because of conflicts he had with his belief in God. After they sit and talk for quite a while they decide to walk to the Joads house together. Although Tom 's parents have no idea that he has been paroled. But as they reach the house the two of them notice that it is unusually banged up and empty. When they step inside, the house is vacant except for a couple of things that were left behind. Some of them were important to the family.

Then they see a person coming towards them. It turns out to be Muley Graves, an old friend. The three of them start to talk for a long time about what is going on in the area. The banks and land companies had driven many of the farmers, including the Joads and Muleys family, of the land, and that tractors now plowed the earth instead of men. Then Muley tells Tom that his family is staying with his Uncle John. The next morning Tom and the preacher set out to Uncle John 's house. When they get there Tom surprises his dad and whole family with his sudden arrival. Soon after Tom learns that the entire family is going to go west, to California. After little debate they decide to go the next day and bring Tom and the preacher. Also coming were grandpa and grandma, pa and ma, Toms older brother Noah, Toms younger siblings Al, Rose of Sharon (who is pregnant) and her husband Connie, Ruthie and Windfield, as well as Uncle Tom.

Early the next morning they started for California, their spirits extremely high. But soon after they left Oklahoma things started to turn for the worse. The first night they pulled along side the road to spend the night. There was another car there already. But soon that night grandpa had a stroke and passed away. So they and the other couple buried him since they did not have enough money to burry him right. Then the two families decided to continue on their way toward California together. The next day they continued on. Their journey continued on smoothly until one day a part of the car and a bearing went out. Tom and Casy stayed with the car and every body else went on in the Joad truck until they saw a good spot to stop. Al then drove back in the truck. Then Tom and Al drove back a few miles to a town to get the part. They ran into a nice man with one eye. The man hated his boss, who had left for the day, and gave them the two parts and some copper wire for a great price. He also gave them a flashlight and a wrench too. As soon as they got back the two of them and Casy put in the parts and drove up to where the families were camped. The next morning they headed west again fully aware of their good fortune. After that things did not go quite as well. Grandma started to get sick, even more than her depression over grandpa 's death.

Their money situation was starting to get grim as well. But soon they crossed the border into California. When they got across they stopped near a river to relax. They set up camp and the men went down to the river to swim and relax. When they were done Tom went on the bank to take a nap when Noah came up to him and told him that he was going to leave. After a little argument Noah turned and walked down the river, never returning. Later a cop came up to the camp and argued with ma and told her that she would have to get out. When Tom walk up she was distressed about being pushed around by the cop. Then Tom told them what Noah had done. Late that afternoon the Joad family left their friends behind, because the woman was sick, to cross the desert at night. When they crossed the desert they were stopped by the border control to check the cars for food. But ma swore there was none and that they needed to get grandma to a hospital quick. When the guard saw the old woman he let them through. But grandma had died on the trip over the desert. Then they stopped at a camp and unpacked. Soon the police came and told the people there that they had to leave by nightfall. Then there was an altercation in which the cop shot his gun at a man. The man was running away for talking back. A woman 's fingers were shot off. Tom hit the cop and knocked him unconscious. When the police came, Casy took the blame for Tom and they hauled him off to jail. Then Rose of Sharon 's husband Connie took off. That night everyone left the camp and the Joads went south to a government camp. They got there late, and by good luck there was an open spot. At the government camp there was hot water, toilets, and showers. The camp was clean and orderly and they had there own government. The police couldn 't come in with out a warrant too. The very next morning after arriving Tom got a job at a man 's farm. But no one else could get a job. While they were there the police tried to stage a fight so they could get in a clean it out, but it failed.

After a little while the Joads had to leave. They went north to pick fruit. When the arrived they got assigned a shack and immediately began to work. That afternoon they made a dollar and went to the store to get some food. Ma got lots of it but the prices were high. That night Tom snuck out to take a walk. He ran into a camp outside of the farm. In it was Casy. He was leading the strike on the farm, the reason for so many cops when the Joads came into the farm. But while they were talking a bunch of people snuck up on them and killed Casy, then Tom took a stick and killed the man who had murdered Casy. The next day lots of people were looking for Tom so the family left and went to pick cotton. The family was again lucky and got a boxcar to live in at the cotton farm. There they picked cotton and made decent money. But Tom could not help, he had to go off and hide a little ways from the farm. Soon the cotton was almost all picked. But they talked to a man with a small farm that needed picking. The next morning they got up early but tons of people were already there. By noon the whole field was picked. The Joads made ninety cents. Then suspicion arouse about Tom and he was forced to leave the family and go off some where.

That night it began to rain and Rose of Sharon went into labor. Also the camp was in danger of being flooded. So during the night the men tried to build a wall to keep the water out, while some women helped deliver the baby. The leave failed in the early morning and the baby was born a still birth. But the water kept rising until it flooded the car and the boxcar, so they were stuck. Then what was left of the family, except for Al, left to find a dry place. They came to a barn and went inside. In the barn was a boy and his father who was starving to death. Then Rose of Sharon agrees to feed the man. She asks everyone to leave, opens her shirt and begins to feed the starving man.
Importance of Relationships Exposed in The Grapes of Wrath
Relationships are everywhere around you and at all times they are present and needed. Good interactions with people form average lives into fairytales and wishes into realities. People need all types of relationships; they need love to know they have a great person right with them along the whole way, they need someone to care about and support, they need someone to flirt with and to have a strong sexual relationship with, and most importantly they need a friend to behold there secrets and trust.Relationships help people get through the tough times; they are there to maintain healthy lifestyles, which is something everyone desires. Relationships are used frequently throughout the novel to amplify and describe the harsh conditions of the land and the journey westward. The family who set off to California during the depression only made it there because of the people around them.

The love in ones heart is not always as noticeable as we would like it to be; yet it is always present if someone truly loves another. It is hard not to have such a strong and desirable love for someone you have missed in the past. Ma and Tom Joad had so much love for each other, and it is rather funny how no one really noticed it but them. They always looked out for one and other during the hard times, it was the helping hand of the other that made them survive. "She crawled close to his voice ` I wanta touch ya again, Tom. It 's like I 'm blin ', It 's so dark. I wanta remember, even if it 's only my fingers that remember `..." (569). If that person that you love with all your heart has to leave you, it would be the worst feeling in the entire world because you would know just then that you might not make it without them during the tough times. Ma Joad feels that exact emotion toward her son Tom. Thought must run through both of there head about how they will ever live without the other. It is a hard thing to face and a hard thing to defeat. The relationship between Ma Joad and her beloved son Tom is more than just family love; during the trip their connection grew to dependence and need.

Caring for someone can develop a compassionate friendship, and it honors that person to know indirectly you will always be there for encouragement. A person who cares about you could be someone you have known for a long time or simply it could be someone who just wants to help; there are very few people in this world who are known to have such a privilege. Casy is a special person and a great friend to Sairy Wilson. He has done some remarkable things for her and others as well. They had somewhat of a secret friendship; no one knew how much they helped one and other out. " `You got a God. Don 't make no difference if you don ' know what he looks like. ' The preacher bowed his head. She watched him apprehensively. And when he raised his head again she looked relieved. `That 's good, ' she said. `That 's what I needed. Somebody close enough - to pray. ' "(298) All Sairy wanted was a prayer for her soul from someone close enough to God so it would be heard. She was lucky to have someone who cared like Casy, even if he could have said a better prayer; She was lucky to have a friend like Casy.

True love is often mistaken for attraction and many people get carried away and forget those feelings they once had for each other. Attraction is full of fun things that can either make or break a beautiful relationship. Who knows if Connie ever truly loved Rosasharn, but one thing is for sure, they loved the benefits of being married. Even while Rose of Sharon was pregnant they could hardly keep their hands off of each other, even before her entire family as they were dreaming off into the night. "... and in the heat they struggled together, and held their breaths. And after a time Connie through off the blanket and the hot tunneling wind felt cool on their wet bodies."(306) If Connie had not left Rosasharn it would be clearer they had some love for each other. However Connie did leave his pregnant wife alone to struggle and somewhat survive. In the heat of their passion love was somewhat present; still during the hot days something was missing between them, something that was not obvious until Connie left.

Lots of little things make one big friendship. A true friend like Tom brings out the best of their good friend, like Casy. Not only do they bring out the best of each other, but the bring out the best of themselves. Who knew that a priest and a prisoner could have so much integrity and so much in common? As Tom invites Casy to travel with his family to California, he is unknowingly changing his feelings about Casy forever as a true friend. " Tom looked down at the preacher. The light crossed the heavy mans legs and white new pick handle. Tom leaped silently. He wrenched the club free. The first time he knew he had missed and struck a shoulder, but the second time his crushing blow found the head..." (527)

Even though Tom knew that killing another man would ruin the rest of his life, he had to do it for his best friend Casy, no matter the consequence. Similar to Tom Casy would have done the same thing, and in fact he did do something similar. Let us not forget Casy taking the blame for hitting the police officer, he knew if he had not done that, his good friend Tom would have had a much shorter life. True friends stick up for each other one hundred percent of the time, which is what simply makes such a brilliant friendship.
The Metamorphosis of Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Tom Joad from Steinbeck 's Grapes of Wrath is a prime example of a person whose morals and spiritual growth cannot be restricted by the law or any other limiting factor for long. Throughout the novel he develops from a man only interested in his own independent personal desires and needs to one who is devoted to his family and sacrifices his own personal comfort for the benefit of the family. At the novel 's end Tom is continuing Jim Casy 's generous work of uniting the poor hand laborers against the rich oppressive landowners who are starving the poor with low wages. Tom 's concept of family grows with his work uniting the poor to encompass all of humanity.

Maslow 's Humanistic psychological "Hierarchy of Human Needs" can be used to track Tom 's personal development. Humanists believe that humans are constantly striving to be the best person that their present conditions allow them to be. The Hierarchy of Needs lists the needs that humans need to satisfy to reach the next level of development. One cannot move to a higher level of development without first satisfying the more basic levels. The first level includes the physiological needs: food water, and sleep. The next level is safety and security, then love and belonging. Next of the list is a healthy self-esteem and finally self-actualization. One who is self actualized has efficient perceptions of reality, autonomy, fellowship with hum ity, strong and loving interpersonal relationships, and is task centered.

At the beginning of the novel Tom has just been paroled from prison serving time for killing a man in a fight. Tom feels he was merely defending himself. He feels no guilt or shame about killing the man and would do it again under the same conditions. Tom 's morals allowed him to justify the killing. These morals were instilled in him by his family especially from the strength and love of his mother. Tom is looking forward to "laying one foot down in front of another." At this point in he story Tom has his physiological needs met and is going home to his family to meet his needs of safety and security love belonging.

In chapter 6 Tom finds his house abandoned and meets Muley, an old neighbor that stayed behind after his family moved to California for work. Tom 's morals insist that he be a straight forward person that will face problems head on instead of hiding from them. This is shown when he, along with Muley and Casy are forced to hide from a deputy searching for trespassers. Tom despises having to hide from the deputy on his father 's land. In this same chapter Muley shows them to a cave where the can sleep for the night. Tom refuses to sleep in the concealed cave, preferring to be out in the open. The cave symbolically represents change as a Freudian womb image. The cave is the womb of rebirth or developmental change in Tom 's character. At this stage of the story Tom is not ready for the change that he will later undertake. Tom is forced to hide from the deputy that is looking for trespassers because if here were to be arrested he could have his parole privileges revoked. Tom realizes that he cannot act as a totally free person. With the threat of losing parole privileges, Tom must make his morals even more strict and resist the urge to lash out at oppressors like the abusive deputies and hostile California land owners.

In chapter 8 Tom is reunited with his family who are on the verge of migrating west to California to find work. Ma Joad takes Tom aside and asks him if he 's mad. Ma knew a man, Purty Boy Floyd, that went to prison and became "mean mad" because of it. Ma expresses the importance that he not be mad because she needs his strength to keep the family together. Tom assures her that he is alright. He tells her that he kept his sanity by taking one day at a time. This seems to be his philosophy from the beginning of the novel when he says he is "just going to lay one dog down in front of the other." Later Tom 's character will develop into more complex philosophies.

Ma is the strength and binding force of the family in the novel but at times she goes to Tom to nurture her strength. In chapter 10 Ma explains to Tom that she has doubts about the conditions in California and the dubious handbills that promise high wages. She does not have the faith that she used to have. Tom inspires her by reiterating that the only way he was able to survive the years in prison was to live from day to day and not think about the future. This brings back Ma 's confidence a strength to lead the family on. The rest of the novel is just about the family doing what it can to survive from day to day. They do not know what tomorrow will hold for them.

Tom 's strong mind can be emphasized by comparing him to his sister, Rose of Sharon. Rose of Sharon is due to have a child soon and is always worried that events around her will effect the outcome of her child. In chapter 13 the family is on the road west when at a stop their dog is run over and killed. Rose of Sharon is frightened that seeing it will have a negative effect on the baby. She has a weak mind and lacks the understanding or the strength that the family has when it acts as a cohesive unit that Tom and Ma Joad have.

In the same chapter the Joads meet the Wilsons, a family that has suffered the same under the land owners. The Wilson 's car is broken down. As Tom 's level of development grows, he realizes that the only people that will help those in need are those that are in the same situation. He offers to help fix the broken car. The Wilsons and Joads temporarily become one family acting as an efficient cohesive group. Tom has increased the level of love and belonging by welcoming the Wilsons as new members to the group. At the same time the Humanistic levels of security and physiological needs are strengthened. Tom knows that there is safety in numbers and with more people traveling together they can pool their resources and become even more effective as a family.

Tom 's sense of the family acting as an efficient group is again shown when the Wilson 's car throws a con-rod bearing in chapter 16. The repairs will take a substantial amount of time. Tom suggests that the rest of the family keep on moving in the functioning car because the sooner they get to California the sooner they will be earning money. He says that he will stay behind with Casy to fix the car. Ma disagrees and argues that breaking up the family is the wrong thing to do. They come to compromise and agree to take the family up the road to find a place to spend the night while Tom and Casy repair the car. Ma emphasizes keeping the family together while Tom thinks of making the most efficient migration to California as possible. Tog her Ma and Tom make a good team as leaders of the family by coming to compromises between the two issues of speed and keeping together. This cohesion with Ma increases Tom 's level of self-esteem.

The family finds a place to stay for fifty cents a night per car. The proprietor of the camp insists that even though they are one family, they have to pay fifty cents per car or else the deputy will arrest them for being vagrants. Tom becomes enraged at the man 's rudeness. The proprietor violated Tom 's morals. Tom wants to deal with him as he would any other: give the man what he deserves and do it up front and straight forward. Tom becomes argumentative but Pa makes him stop because if e deputy is called and he is arrested he will be in even more trouble for violating his parole. Tom realizes this and says that he will take the extra car down the road for the night. The restraint that Tom must use takes away from his level of needs. He must now worry about his level of security and safety.

Casy begins to influence Tom in this chapter when he tells Tom that he has noticed the atmosphere changing. More and more families are traveling west. Casy is trying to think of what the future holds for them. Tom is introduced to the concept of expanding the meaning of family to include all humanity but still insists that he is "still layin ' my dogs down one at a time."

In chapter 20 a man explains to Tom that the land owners print up thousands of handbills to fill positions for a few hundred. When hordes of destitute workers come they offer the jobs for extremely low wages. Tom has digested what Casy was saying about thinking of the future and the wider concept of family. Tom asks why the desperate workers did not bind together and organize a strike. The man explains that as soon as someone even talks of organizing he is arrested for stirring trouble. The man tells Tom that if he runs into a deputy to act "bull simple" because that is how the migrants are thought to act. Hearing this strips away Tom 's levels of self esteem and belonging.

Casy talks to Tom about being disturbed by the situation with all of the destitute people are trapped in. He tells Tom that these people should have a more descent life and wonders how he can make things better for them. Tom listens and thinks the same as Casy but is unsure on how to make a difference. At the camp, a contractor and deputy unjustly try to arrest a man for insisting on a contract stating the wage. Tom sees this and is enraged that the deputy is wrongly prosecuting a man that is just doing what he sees as right much like Tom was when he killed the man in self defense. Tom defends the man and a scuffle ensues. Tom renders the deputy unconscious as the contractor runs for help. Casy tells Tom to go hide outside the camp because of the parole violation hanging over him. Casy takes the blame for Tom sacrificing himself much like Christ did for sinners. Tom talks to Ma and tells her that he is becoming "mean mad." The deputies and land owners are eating away at the migrants decency and turning them into animals. Ma insists that Tom has to keep in control because the family is on the verge of breaking up and needs his strength.

As the family leaves the camp they are confronted by an angry mob and forced to turn back because they do not want any migrants in their town. Tom is forced to act "bull simple" like he was advised to do. More and more of Tom 's Hierarchy of Needs are being stripped away by the Californians.

The Joads find a government camp where the tenants make their own laws and deputies are not allowed without a warrant. In this camp a mentally ill religious fanatic scares Rose of Sharon by telling her how sinful people are punished by God with still-born children. Rose of Sharon is genuinely frightened by a false threat while Tom clings to his strength in the face of losing his freedom because of the inhumane way the deputies and land owners are treating him.

While in the government camp Tom is given time to recover his sanity somewhat because he does not have to deal with the constant badgering by the deputies. Tom is near the peak of his development because the camp offers security, belonging, a boost to his self esteem, and even a little work to earn money. Tom goes for a walk at night and finds a tent near a stream. Inside is Casy. Casy tells Tom that he is organizing a strike against the land owners that are paying sub-standard wages. Casy has found a method to make the situation better for everybody and urges Tom to join him. Some deputies find their strike camp and his Casy on the head killing him. Tom loses control when he sees his innocent friend killed and lashes out against the deputy letting out his repressed meanness killing him turn. This event is similar to the first time Tom killed a man because the person killed violated Tom 's morals. Tom is hit in the face deforming his nose and escapes back to camp.

Tom 's view of life is broadened by Casy. In the beginning he was only concerned with his own pleasure. Then he was involved with keeping his family together. At his point Tom is becoming enlightened to the idea of humanity as a whole. The family is forced to break camp because of Tom 's actions. He hides in a pocket made of a folded mattress, almost like a cave. This is an example of a Freudian womb image where Tom is hiding in a shelter like his mother 's womb and is readying for rebirth or change. The change is his severance from his biological family only to adopt a new family, humanity.

In chapter 28 Tom is forced to hide in a cave, another Freudian womb image, while the family finds work picking cotton. As Tom hides in the cave he thinks about Casy 's talks. Tom tells Ma that he plans to continue and hopefully finish the work that Casy started. Tom wants to organize a strike to bring about fair wages. Tom explains to Ma that he must separate from the family because he would endanger them with the deputies after him.

After Casy 's death Tom is at his closest point to being self actualized. He plans to spread the concept of everybody being a small piece of a bigger family. Tom has an efficient perception of reality. He is able to judge situations correctly and honestly. He is task centered in that he has found a mission to fulfill outside of himself. He has autonomy because he is free from dependence on external authority outside of his family. most importantly Tom has a fellowship with humanity. He finds deep identification with others and the human situation in general. Tom leaves the novel by giving Ma one last piece of advice. He tells her to take each day as it comes. Ma goes back to camp with Tom 's wisdom and tells the rest of the family that all they can do is "jus ' live the day."

Tom Joad developed from the beginning of the novel as a simplistic man only concerned in his own pleasure after enduring years of prison to one devoted to the well being of his family. Lastly, Tom becomes Casy 's disciple in uniting the poor workers against the abusive landowners. Tom realizes that the concept of family includes all of humanity and that he must unite humanity into one family.

Free Grapes of Wrath Essays: Steinbeck 's Biblical References
The plot of John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, can easily be related to many biblical references as well as it could be applied to the daily struggles of the lives of Christians. Two particular portions of this novel stick out more than any other. Those are the characters of Jim Casey and Pa Joad. Many say that Jim Casey’s character could possibly be symbolically tied into the biblical hero of Moses. In the Bibles book of Exodus, Moses guided thousands of people (God’s family, the Israelites) out of severe slavery and harsh treatment in Egypt. From there he led them into the promised land of Canon that flowed with milk and honey. Much is the same when looking at TheGrapes of Wrath. Steinbeck could possibly be trying to infer the Joad Family as being the struggling Israelites. Casey acts as a leader who directs the Joads out of famine and hard times during the 1930’s in Oklahoma and into California where they can begin a new life with hope and future. This book can also be symbolic to the day by day walks in Christianity. For example when Pa Joad needs helps and seeks guidance, it is Jim Casey who he turns to. Those who follow Christ call upon God in desperate times. Steinbeck infers that Casey, who happens to be a preacher, is somewhat of a Christ figure to the Joad family. He even throws a hidden clue in his name. The initials of Jim Casey are the same of those of Jesus Christ. Steinbeck implies that Pa Joad is symbolically a typical Christian who is struggling in a world of sin. The famine and horrible conditions of the great depression stand for the sin that is surrounding this battling Christian. So as a final resort this child of God turns to Jesus Christ for salvation and release from the sin in his life. These two characters display both the giving and receiving sides of God’s love towards his children. Jim Casey gives his guidance and direction as Pa Joad and his family takes in his advice. The same is for Christians. Steinbeck shows us plainly when we are in need of help we should not stay in sin but instead turn to Jesus for our answers. Just as Moses guided the Israelites into Canon and Casey helped direct the Joads to California, Jesus shows Christians the way to salvation.

Grapes of Wrath Essay: Steinbeck 's Powerful Style
The Powerful Style of The Grapes of Wrath

When Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath, our country was just starting to recover from The Great Depression. The novel he wrote, though fiction, was not an uncommon tale in many lives. When this book was first published, the majority of those reading it understood where it was coming from-they had lived it. But now very few people understand the horrors of what went on in that time. The style in which Steinbeck chose to write The Grapes of Wrath helps get across the book 's message.

Early in the 1930 's Steinbeck wrote, "The trees and the muscled mountains are the world-but not the world apart from man-the world and man-the one inseparable unit man and his environment. Why they should ever have been understood as being separate I do not know." Steinbeck strove to reconnect them, and it shows in his writing. Intermixed with the plot are corollary chapters. The purpose of the corollary chapters is to put the events of the story in perspective to the circumstances of the country, so everyone would be able to understan...

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...e context of the events. The two types of social commentary gave each of them added weight. And finally, the use of repetition gave the whole book a sense of continuity.

Works Cited and Consulted: (http://123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=13389)

Noble, Donald R. ed. The Steinbeck Question: New Essays in Criticism. Troy, New York, 1993.

Pipher, Mary. Reviving Ophelia. New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1930.

Wyatt, David ed. New Essays on The Grapes of Wrath. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Grapes of Wrath Essay: Steinbeck 's Faulty Logic
John Steinbeck 's The Grapes of Wrath chronicles the destruction and chaos of the lives of the dust bowl victims and their families. The classic novel works on two levels. On the one hand, it is the story of a family, how it reacts, and how it is unsettled by aserious problem threatening to overwhelm it. On the other hand, the story is an appeal to political leaders that when the common working-class is put upon too harshly, they will revolt. In this aspect it is a social study which argues for a utopia-like society where the powerful owners of the means of production will be replaced by a more communal and egalitarian community like the ones that spring up along the highway by the migrants seeking a higher ground. Their lives are destroyed by poverty and the dust bowl and all that matters is finding a more decent life somewhere west. Survival and getting to a new kind of life are all that matter, so much so that Ma lies next to a dead Granma all night because she is afraid the family will not get through is she seeks help "I was afraid we wouldn ' get acrost, ' she said. 'I tol ' Granma we couldn ' he 'p her. The fambly had ta get acrost. I tol ' her, tol ' her when she was a-dyin '. We couldn ' stop in the desert...The fambly hadda get acrost, ' Ma said miserably" (Steinbeck 237). Throughout the novel the lure of communism lurks subtly in the background as a reminder that in desperate circumstances, pushed too far, the people will revolt.

The Grapes of Wrath depicts the degradations and abject poverty visited upon immigrants who try to survive in the face of American capitalism where the powerful land-owning companies force them into constant migration and keep them from rising above a poverty level of less than basic sustenance. The novel focuses on the sacrifices these individuals make for each other, family and friends, and the way their simple lives are inherently worthy of dignity and respect. However, in the midst of the thousands of others traveling the concrete highway barely keeping body and soul together on the road to a better promise of life in California, these immigrants form a utopia-like community. Society is recreated each evening among the migrants, where social leaders are picked, unspoken rules of privacy and generosity emerge, and lust, violence and murder breakout. Even this community is flawed by the powerful against the powerless, which is Steinbeck 's main criticism of capitalist society. In the ideal sense, these camps founded at night exhibited a sense of brotherhood and community idealistic in comparison to the harsh capitalist reality of the migrants "These grew up government in the worlds, with leaders, with elders. A man who was wise found that his wisdom was needed in every camp; a man who was a fool could not change his folly in this world. And a kind of insurance developed in these nights. A man with food fed a hungry man, and thus insured himself against hunger" (Steinbeck 202).

The communal, decent, and sacrificing lives of the migrants are portrayed against a backdrop of harsh, powerful, and distant wealthy company owners who mercilessly lord over the migrants with blindness to their woes. The socialist or communist view is presented as a means of providing a better lifestyle for the migrants who not only must constantly migrate because of the power company owners, but they also are forced to work for practically nothing because the land-owners have so many migrants to choose from they use coercion to keep employers from paying any higher wages. As Thomas explains to Timothy about a reduction in wages "Do you know who runs the Farmers ' Association? I 'll tell you. The Bank of the West. That bank owns most of this valley, and it 's got paper on everything it don 't own. So last night the member from the bank told me, he said, 'You 're paying thirty cents an hour. You 'd better cut it down to twenty-five. ' I said, 'I 've got good men. They 're worth thirty. ' And he says, 'It isn 't that, ' he says. 'The wage is twenty-five now '" (Steinbeck 306).

Thus, there is no way these migrant workers can ever gain some measure of lifestyle when they are continually oppressed by those who own the means of production. It is a very Marxian critique of capitalist society. In contrast to such a society, Steinbeck gives us his utopia view of the "good life" which involves equality and justice for all human beings, a decent level of wages, and a sense of the inherent dignity in all human beings who must sacrifice and struggle together for the good of all. We see this value most inherently embedded in the character of Ma who not only lies with her dead mother all night long to insure the family will get across, but she also sacrifices the small rations scraped together for her own family to help others, like when she feeds the hungry camp children her stew " 'There ain 't enough, ' she said humbly. 'I 'm a-gonna set this here kettle out, an ' you 'll all get a little tas ', but it ain 't gonna do you no good. ' She faltered, 'I can 't he 'p it. Can 't keep it from you '" (Steinbeck 267).

In conclusion, Steinbeck 's appeal for a socialist or communist utopia is a genuine sentiment and based on his honest emotion and feeling for decent, oppressed, working-class individuals in society. However, he fails to understand that the system of communism or socialism that he advocates is as flawed as the system of capitalism he appears to disdain. We have seen the dismantling of communist states not because communism in its ideal sense is flawed, but because those who control the means of production in communist states rarely do so for the benefit of the working-class. Even Lenin only cared about the needs and feelings of the working-class so he could use it as motivation and impetus to bring about his own self-interested aims. Thus, despite Steinbeck 's plea for a more utopian and humanitarian class-structure than capitalism, his call for socialism or communism fails to consider the equally unjust flaws of those systems of socioeconomic politics.
WORKS CITED

Steinbeck, J. The Grapes of Wrath. New York, International Collectors Library, 1967.
Grapes of Wrath Essay: Prejudice Against Immigrants Exposed
Prejudice is a strong word. It is the kind of word that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. One of Steinbeck 's themes in the novel, The Grapes of Wrath, is the prejudice against the migrant workers by the financially established Californians. Steinbeck provides four clear examples of prejudice; the man whose children died of starvation, the fishing story, the California police officer and the history of the Californians.

On the way to California, the Joad 's encountered other people that had already been to California and were now returning. One of these encounters, with the ragged man with the sunburned face, is described on page 242. The ragged man had children that died because wages were too low and work was too scarce to afford food for his children and wife. His story was one of pain and despair and was evidence of the cruel and inhumane treatment which resulted from the California farmers prejudice towards themigrant workers.

Later, the Joads stop by a river where Tom and his Father find a spot to go swimming. Two men, a man and his son, who asked if they might also join them in swimming, promptly join them. The men start talking and it turns out that the other two men have just come from California. They tell a story describing the conditions as very unsafe and uncomfortable and mention the prejudice against the workers. Subsequently the Joads paid no head to this warning either. Hence, they traveled on, only to meet up with a very dispassionate police officer.

The police officer gave the Joads a first hand experience of the prejudice that Californians had against the migrant workers. The policeman treated the migrants with no respect. This officer, who undoubtedly had taken an oath to uphold the law and promote the public good, would have been more happy see the Joads drop off the face of the earth than see them in California.

The Corollary chapter Nineteen deals with the history of California. How it was settled by the feverish Americans. Through these descriptions we can start to understand the Californians prejudice against the migrant workers. The chapter describes the initial owners of the land, the Mexicans, as being "weak and fed". This description would suggest that the Mexican 's were like well fed livestock. Content to live on the land with little desire to do anything more. Thus they were in no position to stop the onslaught of American 's who wanted the land much more than the Mexicans did, and were too weak to stop them from doing so. Gradually, the Americans took over all the land in the California region. This land was kept by the same families for generations and worked with much success. The success was such that only part of the land needed to be utilized for a family to live leisurely, and financially comfortable. Therefore the burning desire for the land diminished. This is where the migrant workers entered the picture. The Californians view of the migrant workers is very much the same as the Mexican 's must have thought of the Americans when their land was taken over. The Californians, being afraid that history might repeat itself, and the workers may take over the land, were extremely prejudice against the migrant workers. The Californians tried to discourage the growth in population of migrant workers by any means possible, legal or not. The killing of Jim Casy is only one example of how the prejudice was manifest as cruelty toward the migrants. The Californians killed Jim Casy because he was a leader that wanted justice and decency for migrant workers. He stood up for the people because their wages were being cut so harshly that you couldn 't even eat off the money that you earned - much less feed your family. Jim Casy stood up for the integrity of the workers and for that reason he was killed.

Prejudice is a strong word, it is as black as the night, as black as the souls of the California landowners. John Steinbeck shed a dim light on the attitudes that make up prejudices – not only in California but also around the world. The migrant workers weren 't trying to cause trouble and turmoil for the landowners of California. They were simply looking for a better future. Yet they suffered the sting of prejudice, just as millions of migrants suffer today as they wander our world endlessly, searching for hope.

Be more specific in your thesis statement about the four examples that you discuss in your paper, the man whose children died, the fishing story, the police officer and the history of the Californians.
Free Grapes of Wrath Essays: The Importance of Minor Characters
In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, a fictitious migrant family, the Joads, travel west in search of a new life away from the tragedies of the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma. Along the way, Steinbeck adds a variety of minor characters with whom the Joads interact. Steinbeck created these minor characters to contrast with the Joad’s strong will power and to reflect man’s fear of new challenges, and to identify man’s resistance to change. Three minor characters who fulfill this role are MuleyGraves, Connie Rivers, and the tractor driver.

Early in the novel, Steinbeck presents a direct contrast to the Joads, Muley Graves. Muley Graves’ name and actions accurately portray Steinbeck’s idea of a man resistant to change and fearful of new challenges. The name of this character has a distinct significance. The first name Muley can be related to mule, and then linked to the saying “stubborn as a mule”. By analyzing this name further, the reader can determine that Graves also has a meaning. Grave is symbolic to grief or death, both of which this character endures. Meaningful actions could only follow a name of such significance, and this is true with this character. Even though Muley’s family has left him for “easy livin’ “ in California, he refuses to get off “his” land. By refusing to leave for pride reasons, Steinbeck tries to justify Muley’s stubbornness when he is really terrified of leaving his land and having to change his life style. Muley’s refusal to adapt results in him being transformed into an animal with his “sleeves torn loose from the shoulders back...” and his constant “truculent look”. He must even hunt for food and hide in caves like a feral animal. There is even a sound of pride when he “ Gets rabbits, an’ sometimes a prairie chicken.” Muley Graves is a prime example of a character who serves to illuminate the Joads, and their strength and courage.

Along with the characters created to show man’s fear of change, there are characters who would rather give up than try harder. These “... run outs” also contribute to the appearance Joad family’s will power, and the idea that nothing can stand in their way. Of these characters, Connie Rivers in the most noticeable in the novel. He begins as the father of Rose of Sharon’s baby, but eventually leaves his family behind for his personal reasons. Steinbeck first establishes the idea of abandonment by Connie’s thoughts, instead of his actions. “If I’d of knowed it would be like this I wouldn’t of came.” gives the reader an idea that Connie has given up, and foreshadows his abandonment of his immediate family, and on a larger scale the family of man. This violates an overlying theme of the novel, how man must contribute to the larger family of man. Connie’s departure triggered Rose of Sharon’s loss of faith, but her character showed great amounts of courage throughout the novel, thus allowing her to deal with the loss. Steinbeck believes it is these characters, like Connie, that make people like the Joads stronger. Connie Rivers could not make it when times got too rough, he “Didn’t have no guts”.

Another character which Steinbeck groups together with Connie Rivers is the tractor driver. The driver was introduced earlier in the novel as “Joe Davis’s boy”. Like Muley Graves, Steinbeck adds in an excuse for the driver’s fear of change. The tractor driver has “ ...no call to worry about anybody else’s kids.”, just his own. He also adds that his wife and kids were starving, but now with the three dollar a day paycheck they are able to eat. Again we see one of these minor characters contributing to a theme of the novel, how man’s inhumanity to his fellow man affects people. Instead of these neighbors working together against a common enemy, Steinbeck creates a type of rivalry between neighbors. The reader perceives this character as a betrayer, a man who has sided with the enemy. Steinbeck asks, who should be helped first: one’s own family or the family of man? In the tractor driver’s case, he chooses his own family. This decision reflects the tractor driver’s fear of the “hard life”, and what may come by choosing it. The tractor driver provides insight on a situation that occurred frequently during that time. Most people did not fear the change in environments, but few like Joe Davis’ boy did and could not adapt to the rough life of a migrant.

Steinbeck created many characters for the Joads to come in contact with for different reasons. These three characters mentioned above were created to contrast the Joads and to recognize the weaker individuals in a society. By giving up, or refusing to try, these characters display a fear of new challenges and a resistance to change.

Free Grapes of Wrath Essays: Steinbeck 's Language and Style
In his novel, The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck creates a clear image of how life was for the migrants by describing the physical, mental, and emotional suffering they faced as they were forced to leave their homes. He was able to accomplish his intended goal by reaching out to the reader, pulling him into the shoes of the migrants, and forcing him experience life alongside of them as they travel down Route 66.

A clear example of the reader sharing the migrant experience is shown when the Joads must leave their home, “How can we live without our lives? How will we know it’s us without our past? No. Leave it. Burn it.” (Page 120) This passage allows the reader to become one with the migrants and to sense their emotional suffering and loss. The reader can easily imagine themselves in the position of the migrants, losing everything they have, and it is the thought of this that touches the reader’s heart and arouses their compassion for the migrants. In addition, “The fertile earth, the straight tree rows, the sturdy trunks, and the ripe fruit. And the children dying of pellagra must die because a profit cannot be taken from an orange. And the coroners must fill in certificates—died of malnutrition—because the food must rot, must be forced to rot.” (Page 477) Chapter twenty-five, which describes an over abundance of food and people dying ofstarvation, is very effective in capturing the despair and misery of the families. It makes the reader angry that innocent children must die so that large corporations can make a profit and it alerts the reader to the inhumane treatment the migrants received. Furthermore, “They were hungry, and they were fierce. And they had hoped to find a home, and they found only hatred.” (Page 318) The people who traveled to California had been forced to leave their homes, their past, and their lives and travel to a land they had never seen, where they were treated with disgust and hated because they were poor. The coldness that was directed towards the migrants fills the reader’s heart with pity for them and turns their anger at the bank, large corporations, police, and all those who acted in inhumane ways towards the migrants. Steinbeck tears the reader’s heart to pieces with his imagery about how the migrants were treated and his descriptions about the obstacles that they had to face.

Steinbeck provokes the reader’s sympathy for the subject and makes his novel appeal to human emotions by writing about the tragedies that the migrants faced. For example, “I can’t tell ya about them little fellas layin’ in the tent with their bellies puffed out an’ jus’ the skin on their bones, an’ shiverin’ an’ whinin’ like pups…Them children died a heart failure…Shiverin’ they was, an’ their bellies stuck out like a pig bladder.” (Page 260) Steinbeck’s descriptions of the death of innocent children, whose lives were taken from them because of greed, goes directly to the reader’s heart and fills it with remorse and compassion. The reader can not avoid being touched by passages such as this and developing anger towards a society that refused to help. In addition, “Well, that kid’s been a-cryin’ in his sleep an’ rollin’ in his sleep. Them folks though he got worms. So they give him a blaster, an’ he died. It was what they call black-tongue the kid had. Comes from not getting’ good things to eat.” (Page 326) A child dying of starvation was an everyday occurrence for the migrants. This fact, along with Steinbeck’s dramatic descriptions sicken the reader and develop, within them, disgust for a society which could offer the migrants no assistance, rather it just sat back and watched as children starved to death. Furthermore, “Go down an’ tell ‘em. Go down in the street an’ rot an’ tell ‘em that way. That’s the way you can talk…Go on down now, an’ lay in the street.” (Page 609) The migrants pleas for help could not reach the hearts of most people, rather they helped build up resentment of the migrants in people. Uncle John hopes that if the people can see the despair that they are causing the migrants they may do something to help. Steinbeck’s descriptions of the tragic deaths the migrants faced were very effective in helping him to achieve his goal of shredding the reader’s heart to pieces.

Steinbeck accomplished his intended goal by his vivid descriptions of migrant life and of all they had to suffer through. He wrote about the tragedies the migrants faced and the heartbreak that came along with their losses. Steinbeck’s bold descriptions and language exposed the reader to the inhumane treatment the migrants faced; something no reader could be immune to.

References:    Works Cited and Consulted: (http://123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=13389) Noble, Donald R. ed. The Steinbeck Question: New Essays in Criticism. Troy, New York, 1993.  Pipher, Mary Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1930.  Wyatt, David ed WORKS  CITED  Steinbeck, J.  The Grapes of Wrath.  New York, International Collectors Library, 1967.