Power of Religion in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath Essay

Steinbeck exploits a disturbing and melancholy tone in The Grapes of Wrath in order to describe the desolation and destitution of California, once the Joad family arrives. A majority of the novel supports Steinbeck’s disturbing tone, especially with the novel set during the Great Depression; moreover, the setting of the novel proves parallel with Steinbeck’s disturbing tone. Many families traveled to California in attempts to begin a better life; however, many of the migrants discovered that California’s lifestyle did not meet any of the expectation many of the families had. The poverty, low wages, and unemployment that the Okies faced in California proved disappointing, and Steinbeck continually illustrates the struggles the Okies face to

Learning about culture, he depicts flaws, as he’s “been walkin’around’ in the country. Ever’body’s askin’ that. What we comin’ to? Seems to me we don’t never come to nothin’. Always on the way. Always goin’ and goin’.” (163). Steinbeck would use Casy’s sermons as a biblical allusion to Jesus ministry to reinforce the theme of salvation. Later Jim Casy realizes that he has found his place in society after being from alienation from so long, with learning more about the Joad family and his experience at the jailhouse, “jail house is a kinda funny place...Here's me, been a-goin' into the wilderness like Jesus to try find out somepin. Almost got her sometimes, too. But it's in the jail house I really got her” (382). Jim Casy seems to found his place in society with what he has experience from being with the Joad family then to learning about the corrupt justice system at Hooverville then to jailhouse where he learns about the effectiveness of group action by observing his fellow inmates working together showing that sense of unity. He would then form a group after he splits from the jailhouse, as he founds his place of becoming an advocate for the migrant workers. He feels that he has to contend with the very ideals and he must spread to

As we look at the characters within the story, they exemplify and convey the souls present in the bible. Jim Casy forms an obvious parallel with Jesus Christ, as a preacher who proves his dissatisfaction and unrest in his view of the establishment, and has abandoned his preaching style of his earlier life. Just as Jesus changed from the teaching of the Old Testament to promote greater self-discipline and a New Harmony. Tom Joad follows Casy initially, learning from him, until he is ready to take over the message himself after Jim Casy dies, which can be seen as a symbol of his disciple. Just like Christ followers carried on and shared the messages to form the idea that Jesus is still alive even after he died, Tom continued to teach the preachings of Casy once he dies a martyr 's death.Casy is also a prophet and Christ-like figure and we see this when he says: "You don 't know what you 're a doin, '" which reminds us of the

“At the heart of every immigrant’s experience is a dream- a vision of hope that is embodied in his or her destination” (Gladstein 685). In the novel, The Grapes of Wrath the migrants imagined the absolute aspects of living care free to the west. However, everything changed once they traveled to the west, realizing the simple concept turned into hazardous problems. John Steinback emphasized the American dream of economic stability and truculent situations towards the Joads family's point of view. Throughout the immigration, the Joads family goes through constant and unpredictable changes in employment, and their eventual failure to find success in California. The novel has been called by critics "a celebration of the human spirit", in several ways it is true due to the aspects of human nature. Despite the hazardous actions people can do, it is important to realize everything around us.

In his novel Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck integrated many biblical references and values throughout the book. This provided a more intriguing and complex style of writing that he used to tell about the Dust Bowl of the early 1900’s and the arduous journey the Joad family and many others took to reach California.

Based on John Steinbeck's book The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck believes that individualism is the main cause of most of the problems of the planet. When the Joad family lost their farm due to the money-hungry banks, they packed all of their remaining belongings and journeyed to California in search of work. They soon discover that the only way they are going to survive is by breaking down the family barriers and unite with other migrant workers towards a common goal.

Granma Joad often wants Casy to lead in prayers for their family, although Casy doesn’t really want to. Even though he has his own ideas on Christianity, Casy still respects others ideas. Following his days as a preacher, Casy spent time questioning the overall idea of Christianity, saying, “There ain’t no sin and there ain’t no virtue. There’s just stuff people do” (Steinbeck 23). The significance about Casy’s attitude towards religion is that he still respects the fact that others believe it helps them through difficult times. The point Steinbeck is making through Casy is that different people use different approaches to endure difficult times.

The traditional human family represents a necessary transition between self and community. In the difficult era of the 1930's, the family's role shifted to guard against a hostile outside world rather than to provide a link with it. With the drought in the Dust Bowl and other tragedies of the Great Depression, many were forced to look beyond the traditional family unit and embrace their kinship with others of similar necessity. In his novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck uses the theme of strength through unity to comment on the relationship between the dissolution of individual families and the unification of the migrant people. The journey of the Joad family

Granpa and Granma both died before entering the state of California, and Noah wandered into the wilderness. Also, Rose of Sharon’s baby died, Uncle John became drunk and was almost left behind, and Jim Casy was killed by a man wielding a pickaxe. This loss of mental stability and life had a negative effect on Tom, whereas in prison, Tom would not have had to deal with the knowledge and emotional trauma of witnessing his family fall

In the year of 1939, the Great Depression affected the lives of many located within the United States. This was a severe, and most widespread depression which affected people across the world. For the reason that there was a fall of the stock market, a drought ravaged the agricultural heartland. Those who were dependent on their farmland to provide for their families became imposed by coercion to retreat and re-locate their entire families. This migration was a struggle during this period because the lack of resources and money to survive. Among other elements, starvation and homelessness caused many to die at an early age. John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath, exhibits the Joad's, a family who undergoes the collapse of the agrarian

     The book, Grapes of Wrath, follows the life of the Joad family, who live in Oklahoma during the Depression. The story begins with the return of Tom Joad from prison, where he has spent the last few years. He killed a boy in a bar fight and is now on parole. He is taken by surprise when he returns to Oklahoma only to find that his house is in ruins and his family is not there. He doesn’t know that, while he was gone, the banks forced his family and thousands of others off their land. Tom is accompanied by a former priest, Casey, who searches with Tom for his family. Tom and Casey find the Joad family at Tom’s uncle’s house. The family is preparing to move west to California in hopes that they

The Grapes of Wrath set around the Great Depression in Oklahoma while in the Dust Bowl. Tom Joad hitchhikes home with a childhood friend, Jim Casy then travel to California to find work. They return back to the Joad farm to find it abandoned, then learn that their neighbor tells them that the rest of the Joad family is with Uncle John to prepare to leave to California. They both stayed the night at the farm, then traveled to find the rest of the Joad family. They eventually did, but they were still preparing to leave, Jim asked if he can join the Joads and the Joads agreed. The grandfather was stubborn about leaving, but the Joads dragged the grandfather onto the truck. The Joads make their first stop next to a broken down car and the family that owns the car gave a tent to the grandfather who had a stroke then died. The grandmother started to grow ill since the grandfather’s death and her illness was growing worse by the day; eventually the grandmother passes while on the road.

In John Steinbeck’s tragic, mangled novel, The Grapes of Wrath, the reader is shipped off into the heart of the great Dust Bowl in the American Midwest in the peak of American hardship. Through his use of realism in the era of the modern age, Steinbeck reveals the hardships that were faced by common American citizens during the Great Depression, and utilizes the Joad family in an effort to depict the lives of the farmers who had to flee to new land in the high hopes of a new and better life. The obstacles the family faces are similar to what countless other families had to face, with very little of the population able to successful thrive at the time. By utilizing the empowering endeavors unforeseen by these poor families and the meteorological catastrophes overlooking the Midwest, Steinbeck illustrates the nationwide panic faced by many Americans in an effort to delineate their confusion and uncertainty.

Not only did the 1930s see the Great Depression, where America faced severe economic downturn, but it also brought the Dust Bowl. Due to overzealous agriculture practices, the soil of the Great Plains turned to dust and blew away, sending many people away with it. With all of the turmoil, many Americans fell back on religion. The novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck chronicles the fictional Joad family, giving a harsh, yet realistic depiction of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the journey from Oklahoma to California. On their travels, the Joads bring along the former preacher, Jim Casy, who often serves as a voice for Steinbeck’s attitudes towards religion. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck critiques characters who display blind devotion toward religion, enjoying its ease and simplicity, and favors those who are able to think for themselves and benefit in meaningful ways from their religion.

Tom Joad and his family always kept a sense of subtle hope throughout their journey from Oklahoma to California. Hope is what kept them from falling apart. Although Casy struggled with his inner faith, overall, the family did have faith that a new life in California would work out in the long run and would eventually be best for their family. They hoped that this new life would provide their family with more opportunities, and most importantly a job. When they arrived, they discovered that "all of California quickens with produce, and the fruit grows heavy”(Steinbeck). This was the beginning of a new start for the Joad family, but also the beginning of a new struggle. Throughout the novel the Joad family is challenged to survive both physically and spiritually. Their power and resilience is challenged at every turn in their unfolding journey. Casy begins to question his own beliefs along with the teachings of God preached in the Bible. Over the course of the novel, Casy drifts away from the teachings of the Bible and stops believing in the concept of right and wrong. "Well, maybe like Casy says, a fella ain 't