Jim Casy In The Grapes Of Wrath

Tom Joad, in the early parts of the book especially, comes off as a coarse and gruff realist, by his actions and manner of speaking. When asked by his family about whether he was abused by the guards in McAlester, Tom remarks, “They [the guards] give ya hell if ya raise hell” (pg 56). Many people see cursing and swearing as a rude and uneducated manner of speaking. That is how Tom naturally speaks. A trait of Gruff people is that they are very stubborn and confrontational. Those two traits usually lead gruff people into fights and disagreements. Combine that with a very tense and loaded environment, Tom and the other Joads could be in for some problems. By not avoiding confrontation, which would be the normal for a parolee, Tom can let his emotions get the better of him.

In the American epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, there are pivotal and dynamic changes that occur in the various significant characters of Jim Casy, Ma Joad, and Tom Joad. Steinbeck specifically uses these characters to show their common realizations about all of humanity, in order to demonstrate his underlying meaning about the importance of people coming together, helping each other out, and surviving. Ma Joad illustrates this idea clearly when she speaks to Tom mid-way through the novel: “Why, Tom, we’re the people that live. They ain’t gonna wipe us out. Why we’re the people--we go on.” (350)

Throughout John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, many concepts appear that were noted in How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster. However, the three chapters of Foster’s how-to guide that most apply to Steinbeck’s novel were “It’s All About Sex…,” “Every Trip is a Quest (Except When It’s Not),” and “It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow.” On more than one occasion these concepts are hidden within the book, and two of them actually seem somewhat linked together. After reading between the lines, The Grapes of Wrath has an extremely intricate plot and many ulterior meanings. Foster’s book helps to solve these meanings and make it so that the novel can be completely understood.

“You don’ know what you’re a-doin’,” were Casy’s last words before he died as a martyr. Casy died for his cause, his belief that the elite were not truly aware of how their greed was causing the suffering of the weak and that the weak could only surpass their sorrows if they worked together. Steinbeck uses chapter 25 of Grapes of Wrath to portray this very message. Steinbeck uses an array of rhetorical devices such as symbolism and the use of a instructive tone which gives the reader a sense of being sermonized to portray the greed of the elite and how that fuels the wrath of the weak, while also empowering the weak to join together and warning the elite of the inevitable consequences of

During the mysterious novel, The Grapes of Wrath many of the characters change and develop into different people. Tom Joad is one character that has developed into another person of interest unlike the other characters throughout the novel. This particular novel has developed Tom Joad as well as the other characters, in a rather mysterious way. John Steinbeck foreshadows the role of these characters continuously over the course of the novel, yet keeps Toms true character hidden until the novel reaches a certain point. All Characters have changed but Tom Joad has changed unlike any of the other characters. Tom seems to grab more attention throughout the novel unlike the others in the novel.

It also meant that everyone has to put their differences aside and help each other put because we are all human beings and we are equal even though some people may think that it is possible. Evil in this novel comes in forms of man way but what was important was how those

Jim Casy and Tom Joad are two of the main characters in the book “Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck; they also are the two characters that learned the biggest lessons throughout this entire novel. The lessons they learn from being in prison, drastically impact their views and choices throughout the entire novel. This novel also shows how the prison systems have changed since the Great Depression. One of the major changes in the prison system though is the population of incarcerated people. Don’t get this confused incarnation, all that incarceration means is that you are imprisoned in a prison.

“The Grapes of Wrath” is widely known for it’s controversial topics and broad cast of characters, though one of these characters stands out more than some of the others. Jim Casy is constantly shown as a Christ figure, and was also author John Steinbeck’s “vent” to express his own opinions throughout the book.

The Grapes Of Wrath introduces many real life topics, and difficulties relevant to the people in the 1930s and some still relevant to today. Throughout the book topics like migration, corporate profit, and even environmental impacts of human choices are all present in the book. Steinbeck is shown to makes many claims about each of these topics, but the topic that stands out the most are the issues with the criminal justice system. Steinbeck believes that the police and the criminal justice system are corrupt and generally police have a tendency to abuse their authority against poor people and migrants.

n the Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, the author includes a Christ-like figure, Jim Casy, to help the characters realize their identities and visions. Casy helps the Joads by listening and motivating them to continue on their journey. Casy especially helps Tom realize that he wants to help and lead the people in standing up to get what they really deserve and a better life for themselves.

When he was no longer a preacher, Casy still wants to help others find their spiritual connection. This is first shown through Casy preaching his ideas about life to Tom. Throughout the novel, Casy passes on his knowledge to Tom, who represents his disciple. Both characters develop as spiritual individuals throughout the novel. Peter Lisca, the author of the critical article, “The Grapes of Wrath as Fiction” backs up this point by saying, “The development of Jim Casy is similar to that of Tom. He moves from Bible-belt evangelism to social prophecy. At the beginning of the book he has already left preaching and has returned from ‘in the hills, thinkin,’ almost you might say like Jesus went into the wilderness to think His way out of a mess of troubles.” The importance of this is that Steinbeck wants the characters to have a

In Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath, he describes the struggle of the small farmer and farmworker. The principal characters define quiet dignity and courage in their struggle to survive and in the caring for their loved ones. Through this novel, Steinbeck displays his respect for all the poor and oppressed of our world.

Critical Essays on Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, Ed. John Ditsky, G.K. Hall. 1989, 97-10

Existing in a progressively radicalized culture, social expectations are perceived to be in the realm of morality. Under this impression, individuals need to evaluate ethical and unethical principles through a moral compass. According to psychologist Larry Nucci’s theory of Moral Domain, the fundamental moral compass should advocate the ethical idea of rationality in line with the societal paramount of respect towards others. Exploring the human senses of right and wrong, John Steinbeck shortly received the Nobel Prize after he connected with the hearts of many through his nation-wide fictional novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Published in 1939 during the Great Depression, the realist novel focused on the Joads- a poverty-stricken family of tenant farmers forcefully driven from their home in Oklahoma to California, struck by the Dust Bowl, agricultural hardship, and economic changes. Due to their nearly hopeless situation alongside thousands of other "Okies", the Joads travel to pursue jobs, land, and a future. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck focuses on an individual belonging in the Joad kin- Tom Joad. Parolee Tom undergoes a moral development through aid by Reverend Jim Casy whose spiritual theories explore philosophies of pragmatism, humanism, and socialism.

In John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad is the protagonist. After serving four years in jail for murder, he is finally out on parole. When Tom is first introduced, he is portrayed as a negative character. Tom is stubborn and likes things to go his way. In the beginning of the novel Tom lives his life day by day, the future does concern him. Throughout the novel Tom develops from a man only interested in his own independent personal needs and desires to someone who is devoted to his family, and is willing to sacrifice his own personal comfort for their benefit. By the end of the novel Tom Joad transformed from a negative character into a positive character who cares about the future of his nation and the families that are