Tom Joad, the moral center of the The Grapes of Wrath, abruptly exits the novel in chapter 28. In order to escape possible arrest and to save his family from the effects of his problems, he decides (with the approval of Ma) to do the unthinkable: leave the family. In his conversation with Ma he gives his famous speech which can be interpreted as a moment of spiritual insight, a gesture of solidarity or a call to action. He says (in part), "I’ll be ever’where—wherever you look. Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Where they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there."(419). While not the end of the novel, it is the ending of arguably the most important story arc.
What is the significance of Tom's speech and the ending of his story as he departs from the Joad family in chapter 28?
ReplyDeleteThe disappearance of Tom and his speech at the end of Grapes of Wrath highlights Tom’s gradual transition into a martyr just like Casey. In the beginning of the book the foundation for a martyr is set by the challenges that the migrants face. The migrants barely have any work which deprives them of food and general essentials of life. They try to cope by going to government run camps or any other institute that would provide them jobs however they never truly succeed. Even when they get work their wages are not enough to sustain a proper lifestyle and as if to add to their misery their employers seek to lower their wages. In response to this they protest and attempt to improve their standard of living. The person that spearheads their protest and ultimately pays the price for their display of dissidence is Casey. He gets clubbed in the head and dies from the blow. Upon his death Tom avenges him by killing his murderer. This moment signifies Tom taking Casey’s mantle of rising against the opposition that the migrants face. Later on, Tom goes into hiding and has a final conversation with his mother where he says “Guess who I been thinkin’ about? Casy! He talked a lot. Used ta bother me. But now I been thinkin’ what he said… ”Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I'll be there”. Toms declaration to his mother about him becoming Casey finalizes his decision to transition to a martyr.
In John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad’s final conversation with Ma was extremely significant to the story, as it perfectly solidified the book’s themes of worker’s rights and unity.
ReplyDeleteWhile talking to Ma about what he will do after their conversation, Tom says that he will do "What Casy done,” (Steinbeck 419) in reference to the preacher’s efforts to advocate for workers’ rights. Tom was greatly impacted by the death and teachings of Casy, as shown by his decision to follow in his footsteps. This final commitment of Tom consolidates the book’s theme of fighting for workers’ liberty.
This isn’t the only example of Tom demonstrating the book’s themes in him and his mother’s conversation. During their talk, he advocates that they should “Throw out the cops that ain't our people. All work together for our own thing—all farm our own lan” (Steinbeck 419). Tom advocates for these radical ideas that are inspired by his time at the Weedpatch camp, where he was exposed to concepts such as self-governance, labor exploitation, and strength from unity of working-class communities. In ending the main character’s journey by making him preach about working class unification, Steinbeck sends a very clear message indicating the theme of the book.
Throughout the book, one of the most prominent subjects was the plight of the working class and unity among workers. Tom’s final conversation with Ma brings these themes home, solidifying the message of the book.
Towards the end of John Steinbeck's book Grapes of Wrath, Tom ends up having one last conversation with Ma before he disappears from the Joad family's life forever. In his final conversation with Ma, Tom talks about the impact of seeing Casy find what he believes to be his purpose in life, along with the impact of seeing him get killed. During his last conversation with Ma, Tom also talks about how he wants to carry on Casy's legacy and help other people like them who are struggling to provide for their families because of the low pay rates. This conversation gives us a clear image of what Tom is planning on doing once he separates from his family. It is also significant because it shows how selfless Tom is when it comes to caring for others, even when he doesn't know them. Tom's selflessness is a big part of his character, along with knowing what he thinks is wrong and right.
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