The Grapes of Wrath - 1

The author of the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck, has many personal values that he brings into light in this book. From what I can tell he has a fairly modest view on most things and truly values family, unity, and character- all very biblical and moral things to value.

In this novel, the Joad family always sticks together. They tell of their great-grandfather fighting the Injuns for their land, and they have lived together on that land as a family ever since. As a matter of fact, the whole family lived together. Before the depression, Granpa, Granma, Pa, Ma, Noah, Tom, Al, Rose of Sharon, Connie, Ruthie, and Winfield all lived together and even joined Uncle John when they lost the farm. The reader can tell that the author values family by the way they help each other and when one of the members of the family leaves, it is a very tragic happening in the book. Even though the Joads spend much of their time arguing, they truly love each other and care for each other and that is something that the author values.

In my opinion, Steinbeck also values unity. There are many things that point to unity in this book, but one quote that really gets one thinking is from Jim Casy. He tells Tom Joad, "I figgered about the Holy Sperit and the Jesus road. I figgered, 'why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,' I figgered, 'maybe it's all men an all women we love; maybe that's the Holy Sperit- the human sperit- the whole shebang. Maybe men got one big soul ever'body's a part of.' Now I sat there thinkin' it, an' all of a suddent- I knew it. I knew it so deep down that it was true, and I still know it." Jim Casy speaks of a unity, in a sense. The kind of unity that Casy refers to can also be called oversoul. Oversoul is "the spiritual unity of all being".

Another thing that Steinbeck values is character. One thing that most all of the families live by is not stealing unless that is the only thing that will keep them alive. Other things that point to good character is that the family works hard and always sticks together. Working hard takes much character. Also, Tom Joad, the protagonist in the novel, is a man of great character. He actually gains character throughout the novel, which is a very neat thing to see happen and also points to the belief that Steinbeck values good character.

Dictionary.com unabridged. source location: Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/oversoul.Availlable: http:dictionary.reference.com. Accessed: August 18,2011.

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.