The Theme Of Jesus Christ In John Steinbeck's Grapes Of Wrath

Strength comes in numbers and through unification. In John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the Dust Bowl forces the Joad family off their land and they move west to California to start a new life. During their journey, they experienced great hardships, transcending their own needs for those of other migrants, and eventually realizing that survival is made possible by unification. Tom represents the transition from “I” to “We” and the eventual unification of the migrants. Tom is the symbol for all the migrants, and his development from the beginning of the book to the end represents the transition of all the migrants too.

The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, has many parallel or recurring events throughout the novel, five of the major repeated themes would include the references to the Bible and Jesus Christ, the continuous praising of socialism, the changes that Ma goes through on the trip, and the changing definition of 'family' on the trip to and in California.

The Bible is most widely sold book in history, and possibly the most influential. Contrast that with The Grapes of Wrath, a book that was banned in America until rather recently, and the two seem very unrelated. However, John Steinbeck uses the bible as a source of inspiration in The Grapes of Wrath and includes references to the Bible throughout the book. Steinbeck’s book serves to protest the large big business capitalism, that plagues the migrants throughout the book and promotes a socialist revolution in the United States. The biblical references featured in The Grapes of Wrath are meant to show the common people will always prevail over the powerful minority, and there will always be a Christ-like figure that will lead that revolution. Steinbeck utilizes The Grapes of Wrath to open the reader to the idea of a democratic socialist revolution in the United States by grounding his argument in biblical allusions to emphasize his socialist rhetoric.

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)

Jim Casy gives himself up to the police so the rest of the family can continue to California also known as the “Promise Land”. When a member of the Joad family strikes a police officer, Jim Casy takes the blame for their sins, same way Jesus did for the people of the time. Jim Casy’s last words were “You don’ know what you’re a-doin.”. This relates to Jesus because his last words in John 23:34 Jesus says , “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Another allusion in the novel is exodus.

Jim Casy, a martyr and leader with a large following, reflects the sacrifices of Jesus Christ for the downtrodden by uniting the less privileged and rebelling against the religious constrictions of their time. Jim Casy parallels Jesus Christ in many ways throughout the novel. Steinbeck purposefully gave Jim Casy the same initials as Jesus Christ in order to signify the link between these two influential figures. Jim Casy, like Jesus Christ, is consistently willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. When a scuffle ensues between Tom Joad and a police officer in Hooverville, Jim Casey offers take the blame: “Somebody got to take the blame. I got no kids. They’ll jus’ put me in jail, an’ I ain’t doin’ nothin’ but set aroun”(266-267). Jim does not want Tom to be arrested because Tom has broken parole, Jim recognizes that there would be less suffering if he takes the blame, so he does. Jim is watching out for someone he cares for deeply, and is willing to make a sacrifice for Tom. He would rather be punished than see another person be punished more than himself. Jim believes that since he’s “got no kids,” it would be better for him to be in jail as compared to Tom because Tom has a family and is someone’s son. Jim values family and wants to keep the Joad family together and since he does not have his own family and does not have a present father, Jim believes it would be better for him to be in jail as opposed to Tom. Jim thinks that his life is less important than some

The Grapes of Wrath written by John Steinbeck describes a family’s attempt at finding prosperity in a new land. In many instances throughout the novel, there are parallels to various Biblical passages, including both the Old and New Testaments. From specific details to broad themes, these allusions can be found in any part of the novel. The Grapes of Wrath has parallels to the Bible through Jim Casey, other characters, and the Joads’ journey to California.

The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, has many valuable life lessons to take away and use in your own life. There are many key points in life that anyone may face and can learn from. John Steinbeck intelligently assimilates these into his writing. One of the most important lessons to learn is that determination can get you through many of lifes controversies. In the novel, the Joad family demonstrates determination in many scenarios. This shows itself various times over the course of the book; therefore, it is to be considered a theme. Although the Joad family comes across a large number of problems, they manage to find a way to solve them through the use of determination. Due to the Joad family’s strong belief in kindness and compassion throughout the novel, Steinbeck illustrates the theme of determination in The Grapes of Wrath very well as we see the family faces and conquers their issues on their travel to California.

How many different ways can any one given concept be interpreted, and what are the factors in how that concept is interpreted? As we know, there are countless types of people in the world, so how can it be expected that everyone defines the same phrases the same way? It would bank on the age, sex, gender, lifestyle, history and character of each individual. John Steinbeck understands these two concepts very differently than myself or society as a whole.

Jim seems to be the most questionable about how his love to the “Holy Spirit,” and his love for all humans. I find it to be usual in these types of stories about a poor family moving to different places to find work, except for the fact that the grandfather and grandmother died while on the trip. It was surprising and unexpected, but that’s fits in a way during this timeline for the Dustbowl. They stopped at a Hooverville then it escalated to where Tom and Casy beat up a cop, then Casy turned himself in. The situations in The Grapes of Wrath change of an already bad situation to the worst case scenario, but it’s quite

Steinbeck's purpose of including and developing Jim Casy was for him to represent Christ and become the scapegoat of the novel. Throughout the book Casy was the one who got the family through tough times. His prayers would give the family hope that everything would be okay. Casy was a mentor to Tom throughout his journey. Casy cared more for others than he did himself and he took the consequence for Tom's actions. He explained "Somebody got to take the blame. I got no kids. They'll jus' put me in jail an' I ain't doin' nothin' but set aroun'." (363) Casy was also used as a scapegoat. His death inspired Tom to continue his fight for justice. Tom said that "whenever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there." (572) This shows that

In The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads lose their land, are separated and there is no promise of work. However, they still hold their faith and help a starving person even though they are poor (Steinberg 312). Sharon gives birth to a stillborn baby and the family is in distress (Steinberg 310). They however get passed their grief and hold their faith with the hope of better days to

An individual confronting injustice is caused from the government’s devious and forceful laws. In The Grapes of Wrath, Ma, Pa, Tom Joad, and the rest of the family are fighting for their freedom of taking back their land but would present their way in confronting injustice. The conflicts occurring in the novel is due to their loss of home and going to California, hoping for success to find happiness and struggle free. At the same time it isn’t their fault because as a role, they look up to the leader, not knowing what trouble they have to deal with. Steinbeck had a purpose for this novel in order to portray the readers and to give an example based on society’s actions toward each other. Today in some countries, this is still happening. Many people suffer from little pay or no pay at all while being threatened at the same time. As they say, “History repeats itself.”

In the novel, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Jim Casy holds a significant role in the story of a family battling their way through the Great Depression. Jim Casy is an ex-preacher who unites with Tom Joad, a former worshiper. The reader learns more about Casy as he embarks on the Joads’ journey to California in search of employment. Along the way, one develops an understanding of who Jim Casy is and what his hopes and goals consist of. One may acquire a sense of honesty, goodness, and loyalty from Casy. As an understanding builds from the reader to the character, one may find themselves questioning if Jim Casy shows characteristics of Jesus Christ which can help to provide a clearer explanation of his intentions and behaviors. The Grapes of Wrath illustrates qualities of leadership, hardship, and sacrifice as John Steinbeck uses Jim Casy as a modern-day symbol of Jesus Christ.

John Steinbeck's epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, chronicles the struggles of the Joads as they join the thousands of fellow "Okies" in a mass migration westward. The Joads reluctantly leave behind their Oklahoma farm in search of work and food in California. While Steinbeck writes profoundly and emotionally about the political problems of the Great Depression, his characters also show evidence of a deep concern with spirituality. When they feel hopeless and are uncertain about their immediate future, their concentration on religion dwindles. On the other hand, when they leave their home, the Joads regain spiritual faith; they have something to live for: California. Once