Characters in a story evolve due to the struggles and hardships they face throughout the story. In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, the two main characters are quite sheltered and oblivious to what is happening in the world. Lily Melissa Owens in The Secret Life of Bees has never experienced racism. It is not until Rosaleen (the black Owens family house maid) is beaten by three white men while attempting to vote, that Lily faces racism. Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath has been in prison, with no news about the Dust Bowl. It was not until Tom Joad went to Uncle John’s farmhouse (after his release from prison) that he learned about the hardships the farmers’ families were facing which included the loss of all their crops and land. Dust Bowls were severe soil erosions caused by windstorms which caused many people to move to California. …show more content…
Tom makes his way to where his family is staying for the night in preparation to head to California in the morning. When Tom nears the home, he is welcomed by his Ma and Pa who are emotional and overjoyed at Tom’s return. While in prison, Tom embraced the philosophy that focusing on what is happening in the present will enable him to avoid feeling helpless and enraged. Jim Casy, a traveling preacher, also contributes to the changes in Tom and his views on life. Casy’s teachings opened Tom’s eyes to the world, showing him how he can do so much more with his life, if he tries. Tom does things that only need be done in the present, not worrying about the future. Tom begins to do things for others and not just for himself on the trip to California. Tom helps local laborers create a union that strikes against unfair wages. He also helps his family and learns to appreciate