Allusions In The Grapes Of Wrath

The Great Depression was a time of serious plight and hardship for families across the world, but was especially gruesome in the United States. During this time the Southern region of the United States suffered from a severe drought that lasted for six years and due to poor agricultural practices alongside gusty winds, large dust storms were able to form. The novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is set during this time and follows the journey of the farming family the Joads. As readers follow the family of twelve on their journey to California, a place they referred to as the “promised land,” there are many parallels made to the Bible. Steinbeck's use of Biblical allusions throughout the novel illustrates Joad's resilience to survive

His character alludes to Jesus Christ from the New Testament. Both figures share the same initials J.C and have embarked on missions in the wilderness to strengthen their relationship with God as they were able to, “pray alone, [so that] your Father sees in secret and will reward you” (Matthew 6:5). By getting closer with God he has allowed himself to become a more selfless individual who believes that there is goodness in every man, regardless of the things they have done or will do. Comparably, Casey and Christ willingly sacrifice themselves to protect the lives of others. Christ sacrificed himself to take away the sins from all men and Casey gave himself to the authorities on Tom Joads behalf protecting him from a brutal death in jail. Though the crimes of others meant they were faced with death, both prophets happily took that punishment and forgave their murderers. Just as Christ shouted on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do '' (Luke 23:34), Casey stated Christ’s verbatim, “You don’ know what you’re a-doin”(pg. 456). This single act of forgiveness is a very powerful to Casey’s character because rather than hating his persecutors and wishing them ill he does not find them at fault. He knows that their actions are due to their ignorance and does not condemn them for it because every man has good in them even when they're doing something

The Joads struggle to survive in Oklahoma and in their “promised land”- California- reveals similar ideas shown in the Bible. Looking at each character, and the roles they play in the novel, they parallel people from the Bible. Their continuous encounters with hardship, and prejudice are mirror situations from the Book of Exodus where they are met with no salvation. Although the Joads still display some hope for deliverance in California there is none. Steinbeck reinforces this notion with the stillbirth of Rose of Sharon’s baby, proving that new life is unable to survive in the harshness of California. This is a staggering change from what readers get in the beginning of the book, where the religious parallels brought forth a sense of hope for the Joads under the dire circumstances. Yet, it becomes dim towards the end as the grapes which they thought would help them only brings them more destruction. Further confirming once and for all that there is no promised land to be found for migrant families such as