Grapes of wrath main 19 30

““The Grapes of Wrath”The Grapes of Wrath”
Discussion notesDiscussion notes

Discussion notes: Chapters 19-21Discussion notes: Chapters 19-21
 ““We ain’t foreign.”:We ain’t foreign.”:
– Some critics chargedSome critics charged
Steinbeck was racist in theSteinbeck was racist in the
implication that theimplication that the
migrant farmers weremigrant farmers were
somehow better than thesomehow better than the
Filipinos or Mexicans thatFilipinos or Mexicans that
had traditionally made uphad traditionally made up
California’s agriculturalCalifornia’s agricultural
workforce, simply becauseworkforce, simply because
the farmers were whitethe farmers were white
Americans.Americans.
– However, the broaderHowever, the broader
issue went beyond raceissue went beyond race
and to the changing socialand to the changing social
landscape: Now it wasn’tlandscape: Now it wasn’t
just foreigners who werejust foreigners who were
being oppressed.being oppressed.

 AngerAnger
– Landowners hate theLandowners hate the
Okies. The storeownersOkies. The storeowners
hate the Okies. The nativehate the Okies. The native
California workers hateCalifornia workers hate
the Okies: “Thesethe Okies: “These
goddamn Okies are dirtygoddamn Okies are dirty
and ignorant.”and ignorant.”
– The Okies are gettingThe Okies are getting
angry: “A fallow field is aangry: “A fallow field is a
sin, and the unused land asin, and the unused land a
crime against thincrime against thin
children.”children.”
– In a land of plenty, theyIn a land of plenty, they
are starving.are starving.

Steinbeck says theSteinbeck says the
landowners ignored thelandowners ignored the
three cries of history:three cries of history:
1.1. When propertyWhen property
accumulates in too fewaccumulates in too few
hands, it is taken awayhands, it is taken away
from the many.from the many.
2.2. When a majority ofWhen a majority of
people are hungry andpeople are hungry and
cold, they will take bycold, they will take by
force what they need.force what they need.
3.3. Repression works only toRepression works only to
strengthen and knit thestrengthen and knit the
repressed.repressed.

 What Casy finallyWhat Casy finally
learns in jail afterlearns in jail after
giving himself upgiving himself up
to save Tom andto save Tom and
Floyd is that man’sFloyd is that man’s
spiritualspiritual
brotherhood mustbrotherhood must
express itself inexpress itself in
social unity. Hesocial unity. He
becomes a laborbecomes a labor
organizer.organizer.

 Chapter 25 details theChapter 25 details the
deliberate destruction of thedeliberate destruction of the
harvests in order to keepharvests in order to keep
prices up, while children areprices up, while children are
starving to death.starving to death.
 Steinbeck refers to this as aSteinbeck refers to this as a
“crime that goes beyond“crime that goes beyond
denunciation” and “a sorrowdenunciation” and “a sorrow
that weeping cannotthat weeping cannot
symbolize.”symbolize.”
 ““In the eyes of the peopleIn the eyes of the people
there is the failure; and in thethere is the failure; and in the
eyes of the hungry there is aeyes of the hungry there is a
growing wrath. In the souls ofgrowing wrath. In the souls of
the people the grapes ofthe people the grapes of
wrath are filling and growingwrath are filling and growing
heavy for the vintage.”heavy for the vintage.”

 ““Well, they was nice fellas,Well, they was nice fellas,
ya see. What made em’ya see. What made em’
bad was they needed stuff.bad was they needed stuff.
An’ I begin to see, then.An’ I begin to see, then.
It’s need that makes allIt’s need that makes all
the trouble. I ain’t got itthe trouble. I ain’t got it
worked out.”worked out.”
 Luke 23:34: “Father,Luke 23:34: “Father,
forgive them. For theyforgive them. For they
know not what they do.”know not what they do.”
 Casy’s last words: “YouCasy’s last words: “You
fellas don’t know whatfellas don’t know what
you’re a-doin. You’reyou’re a-doin. You’re
helpin’ to starve kids.”helpin’ to starve kids.”

 Steinbeck’s depictionSteinbeck’s depiction
of extreme poverty isof extreme poverty is
not without relevancynot without relevancy
today. In his time,today. In his time,
homelessness andhomelessness and
despair existed withindespair existed within
the larger context ofthe larger context of
the Depression, andthe Depression, and
the general publicthe general public
was, for a while atwas, for a while at
least, genuinelyleast, genuinely
touched and angeredtouched and angered
by the suffering ofby the suffering of
migrants.migrants.

 Today, some argueToday, some argue
that prosperousthat prosperous
Americans seem allAmericans seem all
too willing totoo willing to
accept theaccept the
presence ofpresence of
homeless peoplehomeless people
on the streets andon the streets and
a desperatea desperate
“underclass” in the“underclass” in the
ghettos.ghettos.

In “Roger and Me”:In “Roger and Me”:
 The pursuit of money is aThe pursuit of money is a
perfectly legitimate activity inperfectly legitimate activity in
our society: It is the basis ofour society: It is the basis of
capitalism.capitalism.
 But what happens when, inBut what happens when, in
the quest for the dollar,the quest for the dollar,
human values are forgotten?human values are forgotten?
– In the context of theIn the context of the
novel, banks force peoplenovel, banks force people
from their homes; bigfrom their homes; big
farmers eat up littlefarmers eat up little
farmers; landownersfarmers; landowners
exploit workers.exploit workers.
 At what point does the pursuitAt what point does the pursuit
of money turn into a crime?of money turn into a crime?

 By the time we reach theBy the time we reach the
end of the book, theend of the book, the
transformation from thetransformation from the
single family to the humansingle family to the human
family is complete:family is complete:
– The Joads andThe Joads and
Wainwrights live in theWainwrights live in the
same box car.same box car.
– When Al tears down theWhen Al tears down the
tarp that hangs in thetarp that hangs in the
middle of the boxcar, “themiddle of the boxcar, “the
families in the car werefamilies in the car were
one.”one.”
– Al and Aggie decide to getAl and Aggie decide to get
married, completing themarried, completing the
literal and symbolicliteral and symbolic
merger of the twomerger of the two
families.families.

 TransformationsTransformations
– Emerson’s “Oversoul” hasEmerson’s “Oversoul” has
the consequence of livingthe consequence of living
by the truth thatby the truth that
humankind is bound tohumankind is bound to
one another with spiritualone another with spiritual
bonds. We becomebonds. We become
responsible for whatresponsible for what
happens to our neighborhappens to our neighbor
and to society in general.and to society in general.
– This principle isThis principle is
exemplified in Ma, Rose ofexemplified in Ma, Rose of
Sharon, the Wilsons, andSharon, the Wilsons, and
the Wainwrights.the Wainwrights.
– But nowhere is thisBut nowhere is this
manifested more than inmanifested more than in
Jim Casy and Tom Joad.Jim Casy and Tom Joad.

The transformation of Jim CasyThe transformation of Jim Casy
 ““Maybe it ain’t a sin. Maybe it’s just the way folks is … There ain’tMaybe it ain’t a sin. Maybe it’s just the way folks is … There ain’t
no sin, and there ain’t no virtue.”no sin, and there ain’t no virtue.”
 ““What’s this call, this sperit? An I says, ‘It’s love. I love people soWhat’s this call, this sperit? An I says, ‘It’s love. I love people so
much I’m fit to bust, sometimes.’much I’m fit to bust, sometimes.’
 ““Maybe it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the HolyMaybe it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the Holy
Sperit – the human sperit – the whole shebang. Maybe all menSperit – the human sperit – the whole shebang. Maybe all men
got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.”got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.”
 ““I ain’t sayin I’m like Jesus. But I got tired like Him, an’ I gotI ain’t sayin I’m like Jesus. But I got tired like Him, an’ I got
mixed up like Him, an’ I went into the wilderness like Him . . .mixed up like Him, an’ I went into the wilderness like Him . . .
There was the hills, an’ there was me, and we wasn’t separate noThere was the hills, an’ there was me, and we wasn’t separate no
more. We was one thing. An’ that one thing was holy.”more. We was one thing. An’ that one thing was holy.”
 ““An’ I got thinkin … how we was holy when we was one thing, an’An’ I got thinkin … how we was holy when we was one thing, an’
mankin’ was holy when it was one thing. An’ it on’y got unholymankin’ was holy when it was one thing. An’ it on’y got unholy
when one mis’able little fella got the bit in his teeth an’ run off hiswhen one mis’able little fella got the bit in his teeth an’ run off his
own way, kickin’ and draggin’ an’ fightin.’”own way, kickin’ and draggin’ an’ fightin.’”

 All of Casy’s teachingsAll of Casy’s teachings
crystallize in hiscrystallize in his
disciple: Tomdisciple: Tom
– In prison, Tom learnedIn prison, Tom learned
to mind his ownto mind his own
business and to live onebusiness and to live one
day at a time. By theday at a time. By the
end of the book, heend of the book, he
prepares to leave hisprepares to leave his
family to continue whatfamily to continue what
“Casy done”: He“Casy done”: He
dedicates himself todedicates himself to
work for thework for the
improvement of hisimprovement of his
people, though it maypeople, though it may
mean imprisonment ormean imprisonment or
his own death.his own death.

 ““Well, maybe like Casy says, a fella ain’t got aWell, maybe like Casy says, a fella ain’t got a
soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big one –soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big one –
an’ then – then it don’t matter. Then I’ll be aroun’an’ then – then it don’t matter. Then I’ll be aroun’
in the dark. I’ll be ever’where – wherever youin the dark. I’ll be ever’where – wherever you
look. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry peoplelook. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people
can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a copcan eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop
beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed,beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed,
why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’rewhy, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re
mad an – I’ll be in the way kids laugh whenmad an – I’ll be in the way kids laugh when
they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’
when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live inwhen our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in
the houses they build – why, I’ll be there. See?”the houses they build – why, I’ll be there. See?”
(419)(419)

That controversial endingThat controversial ending
 What it reveals:What it reveals:
 TThose who do not share,hose who do not share,
who continue to be selfishwho continue to be selfish
and distrustful, “worked atand distrustful, “worked at
their own doom and didtheir own doom and did
not know it.”not know it.”
 That’s what makes Rose ofThat’s what makes Rose of
Sharon’s feeding of the oldSharon’s feeding of the old
man with her own breastman with her own breast
milk that much moremilk that much more
powerful: Saving a life ispowerful: Saving a life is
the most intimatethe most intimate
expression of humanexpression of human
kinship.kinship.

 The religious overtones areThe religious overtones are
apparent: the still, mysterious,apparent: the still, mysterious,
and lingering quality of the finaland lingering quality of the final
scene, as “her lips came togetherscene, as “her lips came together
and smiled mysteriously” (the lastand smiled mysteriously” (the last
words of the novel), mightwords of the novel), might
suggest the subject of numeroussuggest the subject of numerous
religious paintings: the Madonnareligious paintings: the Madonna
nursing her child, whom shenursing her child, whom she
knows to be the Son of God.knows to be the Son of God.
 It could be interpreted that RoseIt could be interpreted that Rose
of Sharon’s child was sacrificed toof Sharon’s child was sacrificed to
send a larger message to thesend a larger message to the
world.world.
 This is supported by Uncle JohnThis is supported by Uncle John
sending the dead baby down thesending the dead baby down the
river: “Go down an’ tell ‘em.”river: “Go down an’ tell ‘em.”

 What’s more, the name RoseWhat’s more, the name Rose
of Sharon comes from theof Sharon comes from the
Song of Solomon: “I am theSong of Solomon: “I am the
Rose of Sharon, and the lily ofRose of Sharon, and the lily of
the valleys.” This name isthe valleys.” This name is
often frequently interpretedoften frequently interpreted
as referring to Jesus Christ.as referring to Jesus Christ.
 Thus, this final scene could beThus, this final scene could be
seen as symbolic of theseen as symbolic of the
Eucharist: “Take, eat, this isEucharist: “Take, eat, this is
my body…”my body…”
 Rose of Sharon gains theRose of Sharon gains the
wisdom that she is doing anwisdom that she is doing an
ultimate act for humanity:ultimate act for humanity:
She is sustaining life.She is sustaining life.

 The bigger picture isThe bigger picture is
this: The ultimatethis: The ultimate
nourishment is thenourishment is the
sharing of oneself andsharing of oneself and
whatever one has towhatever one has to
help others: Rose ofhelp others: Rose of
Sharon symbolizesSharon symbolizes
this by giving the onlythis by giving the only
thing she has to give:thing she has to give:
literally, her physicalliterally, her physical
self.self.

Test #3: PreviewTest #3: Preview
 30 multiple choice questions that cover chapters 19-30 multiple choice questions that cover chapters 19-
30; several short-answer questions totaling; one30; several short-answer questions totaling; one
essay (10 points). Possibly some regarding youressay (10 points). Possibly some regarding your
supplementary readings (including comparisonssupplementary readings (including comparisons
between economic conditions now and those duringbetween economic conditions now and those during
the Depression).the Depression).
 Closely review chapters 23 and 25Closely review chapters 23 and 25
 Essay:Essay:
– Be prepared to thoroughly discuss yourBe prepared to thoroughly discuss your
interpretation of the over-arching message of theinterpretation of the over-arching message of the
book, especially the ending : How should we viewbook, especially the ending : How should we view
the Joads’ situation and transformation at the endthe Joads’ situation and transformation at the end
of the book? There is no right or wrong, but thereof the book? There is no right or wrong, but there
is “better-informed” vs. “scratched-the-surface.”is “better-informed” vs. “scratched-the-surface.”

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