The Symbols In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

Steinbeck’s Symbols With the use of narrative language, John Steinbeck recounts the events associated with a time in history when America stood on the brink of despair, the Great Depression. As the Joad family embarks on a journey of survival, in The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck shows the perseverance of the American spirit and the breakdown of the American Dream. Throughout the Joad family’s journey a substantial amount of time is spent on the grueling Route 66. The Route was the link between their destroyed past and uncertain future. It was leading to California where the family’s hopes and dreams lie, but at the same time it was taking them away from their home. The long road had no major highways or roads connecting to it. People
Jim used to be the Joads preacher until he began to question his position and faith, but throughout the novel he is shown to have similarities to Jesus Christ. Jim Casy and Jesus Christ not only have the same initials but a very similar life. Jesus went to the desert for forty days of intense prayer before going public to preach. Jim Casy was a preacher then spent four years away from society. He then spent time with the Joad family. He finally sorted out his religious beliefs and took action on them. Casy spoke for the people traveling to California. He became the voice for the working people. Casy teaches others to stand up and have a voice, like Jesus taught his disciples. Casy and Jesus are alike in the sense of change and in what they left behind. They also had a similar death. Jesus willingly gave himself up for mans sins and Casy takes the blame for Tom Joad when he trips a police officer. He stands up for the people when he tells the officers, “you don’t know what you’re a-doin” before getting killed by the police officer. What Jim says is very similar to Jesus’ last words, “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they have done.” These similarities can be seen in the Bible; when Jesus struggles with his life’s purpose (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46,) when Jesus gets arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:47-56 and Mark 14:43-52,) and when Jesus
The remarks about the colors often symbolized a deeper meaning. In the line, “The yellowing, dusty afternoon light put a golden color on the land.” The golden color refers to the once fertile land that had made many farms prosper and bring wealth to the farmers. The golden land was once wealth and opportunity but was now being bled out by the cotton being planted. Bleeding out is associated with the color red. Steinbeck frequently refers to the Oklahoma land as red country. The land was no longer golden and prosperous but red and dying. Steinbeck also refers to Oklahoma as gray country. Gray can be associated with the gloominess and darkening of the Joads lives as they embark on their journey to California. References to the colors throughout the book bring out many symbols about the Joads