Grapes of Wrath Awakening of Tom Joad Essay - 630 Words

Grapes of Wrath: Awakening Of Tom Joad Grapes of Wraith by John Steinbeck portrayed the awakening of a mans conscience dealing with his troubling trials throughout the novel. The character that goes through this monumental change is Tom Joad, son of two tenant farmers from Oklahoma. Toms conscience was changed from a loner who cared nothing about the people to a hardy leader of them. He first looked after his family on their trip that evolved into including the impoverished migrant farmers in California. At the beginning of the novel Tom Joad has just been paroled after spending four years in a state prison. He stops at a roadside cafe looking for a ride when he sees a truck with a No Riders sticker on it. Toms conversation with†¦show more content†¦Toms final awakening comes when he meets Jim Casy for the final time outside a work camp in the midst of a strike. There Jim Casy tells Tom that the only way the workers can obtain law and order as well as, fair wages, is to unite all the migrant workers together and fight against the larger controlling companies. The statement is driven home when he witnesses Jim Casys passive resistance in response to the threatened violence by the cops. As the police advance on Jim Casy he yells towards them, Listen, you fellas don know what youre doin. Youre helpin to starve kids. moments before his head is brutally crushed by a pick handle. Enraged by the actions unfolded before him Tom grabs a pick handle and clubs one of the officers to death before hastily fleeing from the scene. This event finally made possible the awakening of Tom Joad. He recognized that if a common man were to ever get a fair chance to live their life, they would be forced to do so under a united cause. Toms awakening came slowly as he struggled to understand the toils of needing, not only to care for his family but organize the migrant workers into a force where they can achieve fair rights. During the final chapters of the novel Tom recognizes the importance of Jim Casys work to unify the people bringing about a final awakening of hisShow MoreRelated Humanitys Journey in Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay1150 Words   |  5 PagesHumanitys Journey in Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath As a major literary figure since the 1930s, Steinbeck displays in his writing a characteristic respect for the poor and oppressed. In many of his novels, his characters show signs of a quiet dignity and courage for which Steinbeck has a great admiration. For instance, in The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck describes the unrelenting struggle of the people who depend on the soil for their livelihood. One element helping give this novel an addedRead More The Grapes of Wrath - Beauty in the Midst of Hopelessness Essay1827 Words   |  8 PagesThe Grapes of Wrath: Beauty in the Midst of Hopelessness    The Grapes of Wrath portrays life at its darkest.   It is the story of migrant workers and the hardships and heartbreaks that they experience as they are driven from their land - the land that   they have lived on for generations - so the banks can make a profit.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sure, cried the tenant men, but its our land.   We measured it and broke it up.   We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it.   Thats what makes it oursRead More Power of Religion in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay2432 Words   |  10 PagesThe Power of Religion in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbecks epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, chronicles the struggles of the Joads as they join the thousands of fellow Okies in a mass migration westward. The Joads reluctantly leave behind their Oklahoma farm in search of work and food in California. While Steinbeck writes profoundly and emotionally about the political problems of the Great Depression, his characters also show evidence of a deep concern with spiritualityRead More A classic example of socialism is John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath2431 Words   |  10 PagesSteinbecks The Grapes of Wrath The idea of socialism has transcended down in history; from the proletariat fighting for rights in France to Marxist revolutions and Leninists in Russia. Socialism is the helping of the laboring class; more so it is the uprising and asserting of power of the laboring class. A classic example of socialism is John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath. Many people thought this book was an attack on America, due to its social views. Grapes of Wrath was not a book