The Grapes of Wrath

12/1/17

The Grapes Of Wrath

Ben Weatherford

Language Arts 11 Aca

                        Tom Joad, completely imperfect and human, is the novel's main character. Tom is the character who shows the most development, experiencing what Peter calls an "education of the heart." This education, gained through experience and the teachings of Jim Casy, best exemplifies the moral journey from self to community, from "I" to "we." Tom moves from caring only for himself to a familial loyalty to seeing the entire world as his family.

Tom is kind and shows mercy,but he is quick to anger and very independent. As a man of action, he shows one of the novel's main points and characterizes the image of steinbeck, standing in contrast to the normal and talkative Jim Casy. While Casy is mostly  an observer and commentator on the human condition, Tom's acts of humanity are subconscious, his insights and compassion are natural. Tom is concerned with the practical aspects of his life as they relate to the here and now, not the moral or circumstances surrounding his actions.

In this point of view, I am saying Tom and Casy follow two different paths in the development of their characters. After Casy has the opportunity to see his beliefs acted out by the jail inmates, he moves from a position of observation and contemplation to one of action. Tom's social role moves in the opposite direction, from one who is active to one who reflects. Not until Tom stops moving and reacting does he have the opportunity to take in Casy's ideas.

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