Grapes of Wrath

The tale of The Grapes of Wrath has many levels of profound themes and meanings to allow us as the reader to discover the true nature of human existence. The author's main theme and doctrine of this story is that of survival through unity. While seeming hopeful at times, this book is more severe, blunt, and cold in its portrayl of the human spirit. Steinbeck's unique style of writing forms timeless and classic themes that can be experienced on different fronts by unique peoples and cultures of all generations.

From a more romantic perspective one might be inclined to say the main theme behind this story is choices made by man as a unit when obstacles and circumstances arise, perhaps perseverance through hardship. But this book rarely displays romantic or idealistic interactions among the characters or moments in the plot. Although there is one example of slight romantisicm at end, the book for the most part is an excellent illustration of naturalism in a piece of literature. To shine this main theme under a naturalistic light, the reader must be allowed to examine the deep psychological, emotional and physical connection between man and his land so often demonstrated and greatly emphaisized throughout the book. The cliffsnotes state that this connection is a basic fundament to the Jeffersonian agrarian theory. A great example of when Steinbeck incorporates this philosophy is when the representatives of the bank are telling the tenant farmers that they need to get off the land. They feel that since they lived and died on the land, it is rightfully theirs. "Funny thing how it is. If a man owns a little property, that property is in him, it's part of him, and it's like him (37)." Since the bond between the farmer and his property is so strong, once it is broken the people loose their self-respect, dignity, and meaning. Steinbeck uses this idea to foreshadow and help explain the events of Grandpa's death and to further drive the ideas Casy preaches. Casy suggests at the funeral that Granpa died the moment he was torn from his land. He also speculates that only if the band together and make sacrifices for the unit, the Joads and the Wilsons can they survive. "We on'y got a hundred an' fifty dollars. They take forty to bury Grampa an' we won't get to California (140)." They decide that for the family the best thing to do is to bury him on the road. Steinbeck's dipiction of the tenants bond with their land helps the reader to relate to the emotions and hardships the people felt. So it is from this realistic attitude the author's main theme and doctrine of man's place in the universe is to survive through unity.

Survival is a natural human instinct. Survival is as a never-ending journey with only the destination as final judgement. Figuratively, each level struggles with the constant journey of life and what must be done to survive. The turtle must get across the road to produce life. Each of the migrant workers needs leave their home for the Promised Land; to begin thinking as one whole nation. Business and economy side must 'feed the monster' of Specifically, the journey that most of the farming families must go through is not just a migration to California but a pilgrimage to convert their own perception of their family lives and how best to secure their prosperity. All the migrant workers, including the Joad family, struggle with the anger and frustration of the loss of their land and dignity. What at first they do not realize is that to survive and make an impact they must throw off their "oppressors". This is only possible if they band together and work as a whole, not only for individual gain. "For the quality of owning freezes you forever into 'I,' and cuts you off forever from the 'we.' ...For here 'I lost my land' is changed; a cell is split and from its splitting grows the thing you hate-'We lost our land.' The danger is here, for two men are not as lonely and perplexed as one. And from this first 'we' there grows a still more dangerous thing: 'I have a little food' plus 'I have none.' If from this problem the sum is 'We have a little food,' the thing is on its way, the movement has direction. Only a little multiplication now, and this land, this tractor are ours...This is the beginning- from 'I' to 'we' (151-52)" Generally speaking, all families needed to unite.

Two characters often deliver the philosophies of unity, love, and surviving together. Jim Casy preaches of a human spirit that all men are apart of, and to achieve goals and overcome obstacles there must be a sense of togetherness where one man will share and give to another. "...Mankin' was holy when it was one thing...But when they're all workin' together, not one fella for another fella, but one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang- that's right, that's holy (p.81)." At the beginning of the book Casy has difficulties in setting in motion physical resolutions to his ideas. While Ma Joad is unknowingly performing his actions. Although succeeding in one area, she fails in another.

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