- "grapesviews2" Further Discussion of
The Grapes of Wrath for school students.
-
What's here:
-
- bloody
sun,
- presents religion,
- relevance
today,
- plight and
milk.
-
- 1.
There are frequent references to the sun as a "large red drop"
that made a cloud look like a "large red drop," that made a cloud
look like a bloody rage and the earth look bloody. How do these
images contribute to the meaning of the novel?
-
- Of course it is set in the Dust bowl of
USA.
- Look at the film clips - all is dust; the
novel talks about the land/soil (and metaphorically their
livelihood) as being swept away in the wind. The sun of course
appears in the dust as red, like an eye of anger in the
sky.
-
-
- 2. Explain the importance
of the contrast between the dryness of the first part of the novel
and the floods of the final part. Note also the frequent
references to the sun as a "large red drop "that made a cloud look
like a bloody rage and the earth look bloody. How do those images
contribute to the meaning of the novel?
-
- They shape the cycles of nature and the
cycles in the life of the Joads. Nature can be so cruel too with
too little or too much. It is a land of plenty but has nothing for
the Joads and the immigrants. The allegorical biblical setting for
the drama of the action and a kind of naturalistic fallacy where
nature is in sympathy with Man.
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- 3.
Give examples of how Steinbeck presents religion in his
novel.
- Does he condemn organized
religion throughout the novel in favor of a sort of personal
mysticism, or does he make a distinction between genuine religious
expressions and that of self-righteous hypocritical religious
people?
-
- Go for the second alternative. Formal
religion had exploited people and increased frustration. It is
seen to be come part of the impersonal government Establishment
oppressing small people. Today we say "small is beautiful".
Steinbeck would have liked to see a minimalist government.
Remember how they buried Granma avoiding any official notification
and fees, etc.
- Casy's disenchantment is with his own sins
but shows the natural search for the really genuinely spiritual.
His embarrassing silence and lack of ritual at the graveside is
quite a disappointment to Ma but that is the limit of his
capacities (and the Joads' too!) His dilemma is very private but
the sper't goes on!!
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- 4.
In what ways does this novel transcend the critical issues of the
30's and the Depression and speak to us in our day? Are there
issues that are the same for us? Explain.
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- Yes indeed it is a classic. See
my site
for comments on this.
- The novel touches the universal in its very
particularity of the details of the Joads' life and demise. They
symbolise all immigrants like themselves, and more widely they
symbolise all Mankind on some kind of a journey (to Heaven, to
'Progress' or whatever) or to the inevitable greater natural
complexity, group survival, the goal that all social organisations
aspire to and move towards.
- (Refer here to Steinbeck's studies of
schools of fish and molluscs in Monterey Bay with
Doc).
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- 5.
Explain the interplay of plot, the allegorical qualities defining
Jim Casy, and theme.
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- The plot contains the symbolism and the
theme grows from the plot. The intercalary chapters are helping to
convey the meanings for modern readers who are not used to reading
symbols.See also discussion at: symbols
and allegory.
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- 6.
Why does Steinbeck and the novel with Rose of Sharon feeding the
dying man not emphasize their plight? What are the meanings of
"family" and "land" in this book?
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- This is actually melodramatic but is meant
to be touching. She is here become a Mother Earth figure giving
her last and frustrated milk to those who need it. Out of the
grapes of wrath comes the milk of human kindness paradox (lily on
the dunghill). Suffering generates compassion and the Joads had
lots of both.
- Steinbeck's second wife Elaine suggested
this language and framework I seem to remember.
- Home and family are the icons of happiness;
unfortunately both of these disappear for the Joads.
-
- Greg
Return to grapesviews1-first
page of questions and replies
- Return to my The Grapes of
Wrath site