How Does John Steinbeck Use Jargon In The Grapes Of Wrath

John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath chronicles the movement of the Joad family and thousands of other tenant farmers westward from Oklahoma, as drought and its resulting economic hardship force them to leave behind their homes. His profound and lifelong interest in biology is reflected in many places in his novel (Guthrie). He uses biological and environmental imagery and jargon in the interchapters to contrast the cooperative diction in the narrative chapters in order to enhance the value of community that is unique to the human animal.
Steinbeck uses biological and environmental imagery and jargon to detail the importance of topsoil and the impact of drought and erosion on the environment in order to show that nature is harsh

Steinbeck argues that while nature exists (but is neither bad nor good), humans can create good and become strong by working together. He shifts from the Joad family to greater human society to demonstrate his views. Jim Casy postulates, “‘But when they’re all workin’ together, not one fella for another fella, but one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang-- that’s right, that’s holy’” (Steinbeck 110). He explores the idea of strength in numbers, the idea that people are stronger when they work toward a common goal than solely for their own interests. He employs unifying diction to show that humans are powerful when they work together. After Tom reunites with his family after serving time in prison is the first time that the concept of power in unity is explicitly addressed. This is something that Casy has been thinking about, as he previously points out, and the structure of his thoughts is a stream of consciousness which is evident as he confirms himself with “that’s right” and pauses after he says “shebang.” The cooperative word choices include “together” and “whole” indicate a togetherness unique to humans. He chooses collaborative words for Casy in this prayer, after Casy states that he has been thinking a lot, which shows a conscious shift towards this idea of working together. This recognition of the need to work together is the first step of what later evolves into a massive coalition of families working together for survival and support as they move westward. The idea of everyone working together will later evolve into Casy’s idea of one big soul. This symbol of one big soul demonstrates the strength of the people and supports the idea that people together are powerful. A soul has a purpose and it is achieved through the actions of the body that surrounds it,