The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of Joad family's search for a new life in California after being evicted from their farm in Oklahoma. The family includes three generations (four if you include Rose of Sharon's unborn child) as well as seven siblings. In addtion, the novel also includes other characters connected to the family such as Jim Casy and Muley Graves. Furthermore, there are a whole host of characters that we meet on their journey, such as Ivy and Sairy Wilson, and some who we don't even know their names such as the truckdriver that Tom hitches a ride with, the one-eyed man who sells Al and Tom car parts or the ragged man they meet at a campsite who is going back to Oklahoma to starve.
Do some of these characters represent a main theme or idea? Do they represent "roads not taken" by the main characters or contrasts with the Joad family? Do they all (or most) have something in common? Do they fit into categories or types? Why this sprawling cast of characters?
Many interesting “side” characters come across different chapters of “Grapes of Wrath,” and I think they represent different core themes in the novel. The two characters that stuck out to me the most in the writing are Muley Graves and the one-eyed man. These characters reflect parts of the main story and themes, helping show what the author wants to get across to the readers with their motives, dialogue, and emotions. Muley Graves is a friend of the Joad's and an important part of Tom’s childhood. When Tom found him on the way back from prison he had a strangeness to him and was alone and isolated. Acting tough, Muley claimed to be around the deserted area, “taking care of the place.” But later he opened up by saying, “I’d tell myself, ‘I’m lookin’ after things so when all the folks come back it’ll be all right.’ But I know that wasn’t true. There ain’t nothin’ to look after. The folks ain’t never comin’ back. I’m jus’ wanderin’ aroun’ like a damn ol’ graveyard ghos’” (Page 51). This quote was a reflection of many people in Oklahoma not being able to let go of their homes, and choosing to stay and live the tough life of the Dust Bowl rather than chasing a better one. Muley Graves represented what the Joad family could have been and is a portrayal of their possible future. The idea of holding onto the past is reflected in many characters and situations throughout the story but Muley Graves is the most spot-on caricature. Throughout his interactions with Muley Graves, Tom tries to help him out in different ways, even inviting him on the trip to California, but Muley chooses to stay. Another character Tom attempts to help out is the one-eyed man. “The one-eyed man” is the best way to describe the person that the “car fixing” team meets while trying to repair Wilson’s car engine. When they come across an auto repair shop Tom, Al, and Casy enter, hoping to find parts that they can use to fix the con-rod's engine. In the shop they meet a ghost of a man with one eye, this man’s entire demeanor shows that he lives a sorrowful life. In their interaction, the one-eyed man opens up about how he is an employee at this shop and that his boss picks on him for his appearance, making jokes about the man’s attractiveness. He talks down upon himself and expresses how he has lost hope. Tom gets upset at this, lecturing the man saying, “Now look-a-here, fella. You got that eye wide open. An’ ya dirty, ya stink. Ya jus’ askin’ for it. Ya like it. Lets ya feel sorry for yaself” (Page 179). Tom’s anger shows another part of his character, his feelings towards seeing another person feeling hopeless reflects his confidence and way of thinking. Tom does everything that he can in his circumstances to make the best of them, and this recurring theme shows itself throughout the book. I also think that this was a lesson that the author was trying to teach the readers. The author uses many of the characters in this book for the same reason a lot of dialogue is written. Important themes are strung together and built with these characters, Muley Graves and the one-eyed man were two examples, but the core themes are portrayed in unique ways that happen very often throughout the book. The author grows the story in a very one-of-a-kind way and this makes the book an even better read.
ReplyDeleteThe different characters in The Grapes of Wrath represent different aspects of the book. Some people represent characteristics like poverty, strength, and pride. Others create plot points for the Joads on their trip to California. Not only their trip but also these characters represent the different struggles during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. A person who had a very hard time during this era is Muley Graves. The name Muley Graves means that he is stubborn like a mule and suggests death. He chose to stay on his land even though the bank took it, like many others during the dust bowl. Whereas Jim Casy left behind his preaching and left Oklahoma. Muley and Jim are contrasting characters. Casy made self sacrifice hoping to look to the future and Muley stayed in the past. It is almost like two paths the Joads could have taken. They chose Jim Casy’s and headed to California, pursuing a new life. On the way to California the Joad family came across many new people. One being the ragged man at the campsite. This man is heading back to Oklahoma. He indicates struggle for the Joads, foreshadowing their hardships. Another man they met along the way, the one-eyed man, was self-pitying and depressing. He had all these problems but chose to do nothing about them. These characters, excluding Casy, show “the road not taken” by the Joads. A representation of what their life would be like if they did not leave Oklahoma. Muley, Casy, and the two men along the way each fit into their own categories- the struggling, the doubtful, and the hopeful. The book isn’t just a story of the Joads but a story of all the immigrants during this time. It showed readers different perspectives and immersed the reader into the era.
ReplyDeleteIn The Grapes of Wrath I do think the characters represent the theme. Most of the characters are similar to each other personality wise considering they are all from the same place and most of them are family. The main idea of the novel is the impacts of the great depression and the dust bowl, which I believe represents sadness and despair. All the characters in the novel appear to have a lot of sadness in their hearts even if it's hidden. For example, Ma stayed quiet for most of the time since she's been introduced, but once the idea of the family splitting up was introduced she broke down and you could see all the sadness and anger she has in her heart just based on her current situation and all the things that have happened in her life. Another character that represents this is Tom. Tom was just recently released from prison, and right when you think he's life is going to return to normal, BOOM, the family gets evicted from their home and have to set off on a journey that may or may not be successful. Tom gives off a very nonchalant and laid back attitude, but Tom has been through more than most and definitely more then all the people he was with at this point in time. The entire novel is very passive aggressive and uses a lot of suggestive words to get their points across which if fitting considering the time period of this book. The book gives very subtle hints of each characters personality.
ReplyDeleteThe supporting characters in The Grapes of Wrath outside of the Joad family serve as insights for the reader as the the other possibilities of how the Joad family could have dealt with the tractoring, as well as providing a multitude of different perspectives and opinions. Specifically, Muley Graves highlights an alternative path of how the Joad’s story could have been told. Towards the beginning of the book, Muley Graves is introduced as an acquaintance of Tom from before he went to prison, and is described as a raggedy survivor of the tractoring who decided to stay and not leave. He tells Tom and Casy that “ ‘Them sons-a-bitches,’ he said. ‘Them dirty sons-a-bitches. I tell ya, men, I’m stayin’. They ain’t gettin’ rid a me. If they throw me off, I’ll come back, an’ if they figger I’ll be quiet underground, why, I’ll take a couple-three of the sons-a-bitches along for company.’ He patted a heavy weight in his side coat pocket. ‘I ain’t a-goin’. My pa come here fifty years ago. An’ I ain’t a goin’ ”(Steinbeck). Steinbeck uses Muley as a comparison to the Joad family as to what they could have done instead of moving to California. The Joads also had been on the land for generations, but they decided to leave it all behind and make the great move to California, in direct contrast to Muley Graves who stayed. Characters like Muley and the car salesman help give the reader a different view into the time of the story beyond what we can glean from the Joad family, and helps us deepen our understanding of what it was like to live then. The chapter from the perspective of the used car dealership owner gives us a window into how auto business was done when every family was trying to go to California. The salesman continuously sells cars that aren’t well-maintained and lies to potential buyers in order to get a sale done. He takes advantage of the desperate future migrants by giving them crappy cars for a ridiculous price and always says, “Soften ‘em up Joe. Jesus, I wisht I had a thousand jalopies! Get ‘em ready to deal, an’ I’ll close ‘em. Goin’ to California? Here’s jus’ what you need. Looks shot, but they’s thousan’s of miles in her” (Steinbeck). The salesman uses his workers to ease the potential buyer into the deal before the owner can finish the job and secure the deal: a bad car for an extreme price. He knows that the majority if not all of the buyers are going to California and need a car, so he gives them one that is in terrible condition (a jalopy), but tells them it’s fine and sells it. He hustles the people and doesn’t think twice. Characters like him provide deeper views into the different aspects of the great migration to California beyond the perspective of a migrant.
ReplyDeleteOut of the characters that we have met in this book so far few represent the main theme. The character that best represents the theme of the book is mostly Joad, he does a good job of making sure that everything that needs to be done gets done and finds a way to keep moving forward. A good example of this is when the truck breaks down and he has to find a new part. He finds the new part at a shop and gets home in the same day. Another character would be Ma as she makes sure everybody is cared for and helps keep them moving. Both of these characters fit into the category of highly responsible people in this book because they both have a lot of weight on their shoulders. Joad who is the biggest and strongest out of the family has to make sure that things go smoothly and that they all end up making it to California. Ma also has a lot of responsibility because she is in charge of making sure that everyone is fed and is doing well. Most of the other people in the Joad family also have responsibilities but are not as big as these two. This sprawling cast of characters helps add variety to the book and story so that it is not repetitive.
ReplyDeleteThe sprawling cast of characters in Grapes of Wrath could represent the different ways people are using the current events to cope or show their true colors. Most of the characters we meet, that we know of, don’t have much left to give since it was taken from them. Generally they are alone, without any real family or support systems to get them on their feet or keep them going. Meanwhile the Joads and Wilsons find strength in each other and the people they have in their company. One example of those who have given up hope is the one-eyed man that sells them car parts. He shows a stark contrast to Tom especially, who refuses to give up, while the one-eyed man has done nothing but mope about his situation. An example of this is on page 179 when, “I tell ya, a one-eye’ fella got a hard row” (Steinbeck). Tom has no sympathy for the man though, as he’s put in no effort to change how he thinks or anything to help his life get better. Then there’s the aspect of Muley Graves who decided to stay on his property even if he was evicted as well. He feels some sort of obligation to the land, and has nowhere else to go. His connection to the property is all he has left. Even if he has to become, “mean like a weasel” (Steinbeck 57) to keep it.
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