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GrapesSymbolism

GrapesSymbolism John Steinbeck uses symbolism to enrich his writing. Several of these symbols can be found in his book, The Grapes of Wrath. The Joads, a family from Oklahoma, are in search of a better life. They leave their home on a journey to California because bankers seizing their land kick them out. The symbols in the book are the dust, the turtle, the grapes, and especially the names of the characters. These symbols give the reader an additional perspective of the book. Dust represents life and death. Dust makes a mess of things and leaves possessions under a mucky film. The farming in Oklahoma becomes difficult because the heavy winds uplift the soil and carry it great distances. The farmers are then left with no soil to grow their crops. The Joad family’s livelihood depends on the soil, and if the soil is rich, it will feed hundreds. But if the soil is dry, it destroys crops and causes famine. The dust covers Oklahoma and leaves the Joad family with no other choice but to move. The Joad’s journey to California is as slow as a turtle. Heat in the desert, car problems, and the deaths of the grandparents make the journey long and painful. A turtle shelters himself by pulling his head, legs, and tail inside his shell. The Joads gather together as a family to comfort and shelter themselves. A turtle feels safe when it enters his shell and the Joads feel safe when they gather as a family. Grapes are the fruit of the vine, something sweet. But in the harsh reality for the Joads, they are a disappointment. The Joads talk about them as being this wonderful fruit that will bring them a better life. They will pick the grapes and earn money. But as they stare at the open fields they realize that it is all just a dream. There are no grapes. They continuously think of the grapes as an escape from their depression. The grapes would be so fruitful that they would be able to bathe in the sweetness, but in their case it turns out completely different. There is a symbolic significance in the names of characters throughout The Grapes of Wrath. Tom, one of the main characters, is hitchhiking home when he stumbles upon a preacher by the name of Jim Casey. Jim baptized Tom, but now he is no longer preaching because he has found that everything is holy and man needs no preacher. Jim’s initials are J.C., which are the same as Jesus Christ. Jim shows similar characteristics to Jesus Christ. He sacrifices himself for Tom. Tom has caused a deputy to loose his suspect and is said to be under arrest, but Casey steps in and takes the blame. “It was me, alright” (p.364). Casey is taken by two deputies, but appears to be proud because he knows he has done the right thing. This scene is very similar to the bible’s portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. “Between his guards Casey sat proudly, his head up and the stringy muscles of his neck prominent” (p.364). He gives up his freedom so the Joad’s can accomplish their dreams as a family. Tom then meets Muley Graves, an old neighbor. Muley shows animal-like characteristics and acts like a mule. Just like a mule, Muley is stubborn. He refuses to leave his land after he has already lost it. “I’ll be aroun’ till hell freezes over. There ain’t nobody can run a guy named Graves outa this country. An’ they ain’t done it, neither” (p.62). Muley’s last name symbolizes death and the fact that he is to die on his land. Everyone is tractored off of the land, except for him. Winfield is young and his name hints to the reader that he might “win the fields” back from the rich bankers down the line. He is capable of working the land and may be the first farmer of the next generation of the Joad family. Ruthie is, in fact, very ruthless. She is very cruel and finds it hard to share her belongings, which is uncharacteristic of the Joad family. She was nibbling on some cracker jacks when some kids came and asked for some, but Ruthie would not share. “So Ruthie got mad an’ chased ‘em, an’ she fit one, an’ then she fit another, an’ then one big girl got up an’ licked her” (p.563). Although she appears to be strong, in reality she is very weak. Discussing the symbols of the dust, the turtle, the names, and the grapes make the reader aware of another aspect of the story. The reader is able to realize just how well Steinbeck is able to bring his stories to life. A Steinbeck reader can learn to appreciate his style of writing by noticing these symbols. The author illustrates in this novel that he is not only an author, but also an artist. Bibliography:

Word Count: 838