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Throughout history man has made many journeys, far and wide, Moses great
march though the Red Sea and Columbus’ crossing of the Atlantic Ocean are only a
few of mans greatest voyages. Even today great journeys are being made. In every
instances people have had to rise above themselves and over come emence odds.
The Joads did just that by traveling to California to find work. Steinbeck shows
one aspect of this real life journey by displaying it by a turtle and it’s
struggle to reach the other side of a road. As the turtle is about to reach his
goal, it is returned to it’s original location, but it does not waver in it’s
determination, and continues across the road until it reaches the other side.
The Joad family and Casy identify with this the most because the undergo
tremendous heartache, yet they stay true to their plans and never give up. They
are faced with death and sickness, but they never give up. Steinbeck wrote “In
the evening a strange thing happened: twenty families became one family, the
children were the children of all the loss of home became one loss, and the
golden time in the West was one dream” This was what the Joads were searching
for they wanted to feel like they belonged. Ma was the one who was mostly
searching for this. This is her journey to keep the family together. Her belief
that a broken-family will not be able to accomplish anything. This is displayed
by her not allowing the two cars to split and arrive at California at different
times, when one of the cars breaks down, as they are leaving Oklahoma. Ma says
“I ain’t a-gonna go.” The only way she’ll let the family break up is if pa whips
her and makes her go. Pa’s journey is displayed by his trying to fit in and make
a difference. He does not handle this move very well, and throughout their
journey, he is confused, and not as headstrong as Ma. He realizes this also, he
knows that he can’t help the family the way he use to. So he searches for anyway
he can help. When the rain was coming it was this idea to dig a ditch. It was a
good idea but it failed and it reflected on him. Tom Joad is a very complicated
individual, who is a tremendous asset and at the same time a tremendous burden.
His Parole causes his family an unneeded worry, while his ability to get work
while very few people do, also benefited the family. He is also the main
protagonists for his family, with his independent nature, and the main follower
of Casy’s philosophy on human nature. Tom’s journey let to Casy’s death it
wasn’t his fault but he realized the importance of Casy’s ideas. This ultimately
let to this leaving the family to help other people. Tom said “...I’ll be aroun’
in the dark. I’ll be ever’where - wherever you look. 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....I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’ - I’ll be in
the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when
our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build - why I’ll
be there.” Tom was in a way like a hero to his people. Casy has frequently been
compared with Jesus Christ, and his lifestyle of preaching and leading people in
revolt, as well as sacrificing himself for Tom and the Joad family demonstrates
this common held belief well. He also had a follower, or disciple in Tom, who
after Casy’s death carries his message, and aids other with it. The Joad family
along with Casy show the benefit of people uniting in order to accomplish goals.
Rose of Sharon baby symbolizes live and death. The baby dies but in a way it
brings live to the old man who needs milk. The end of the book is not the end of
their journey. The people are only still at the beginning. But the hardest part
is past. They realize that family isn’t first . Ma said it best when so said,
“Use’ta be fambly was fust. It ain’t so now. It’s anybody. Worse off we get the
more we got to do.”
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