Grapes Of Wrath - Allusion

449 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: The theme of the grapes of wrath

Text:
"He held the apple box against his chest. And then he leaned over and set the box in the stream and steadied it with his hand. He said fiercely, "Go down an' tell 'em. Go down in the street an' rot an' tell 'em that way....Maybe they'll know then." He guided the box gently out into the current and let it go" (493).

"I figgered, 'maybe it's all men an' all women we love; maybe that's the Holy Sperit- the human sperit-the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever'body's a part of.' Now I sat there thinkin' it, an' all of a suddent- I knew it. I knew it so deep down that it was true, and I still know it..." (25).

"If you could separate causes from results, if you could know that Paine, Marx, Jefferson, Lenin, were results, not causes, you might survive" (166).

Analysis/ Commentary
Uncle John's motivated action alludes to the tale of the baby Moses. To save her baby from slavery, Moses' mother sets the infant adrift in a basket. Similarly, Uncle John feels he is 'freeing' the baby from the migrants' miserable condition.

Jim Casy, an ex-preacher, constantly shares his thoughts and philosophies about life. Throughout the novel, he indirectly alludes to Jesus Christ. Casy believes that men are holy, and later he, just like Jesus, is killed for opposing human cruelty and suffering.

The author explains that the ideas of Paine, Marx, Jefferson and Lenin were not causes of the American Revolution. Rather, they were results of the harsh living conditions. Steinbeck warns the farmers that the only way to survive the sudden changes is to understand the difference between the causes and results of their hopeless situation.

Evidence/ Quotations from the Text
"But then he says, 'It ain't so bad if you know.' He says, 'French Revolution-all them fellas that figgered her out got their heads chopped off. Always that way,' he says" (424).

"Ma said, 'This here's my girl, Rosasharon" (346).

Analysis/ Commentary
Casy's jail mate assuages his condition by comparing it to the days of the French Revolution. During the Revolution, a group of radicals (the Jacobins) attempted to crush all opposition within France.

Show More
Related

  • Allusions In The Grapes Of Wrath

    416 Words  | 1 Pages

    People just don’t seem to give up, they continue fighting till the very end rather than lay down and succumb to the challenge faced. In “The Grapes of Wrath”, John Steinbeck uses symbolism and religious allusions as unifying devices to illustrate the indomitable nature of the human spirit.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Patomas Paine

    718 Words  | 2 Pages

    When it comes to the topic of the American Revolution, most of us will readily agree that it influenced essentially every code of ethics in today’s society. Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine address an identical topic. That is, they both provided inspiration to the American Revolution cause. Patrick henry on one point of view, speaks of the harshness of the British rule over the American colonies. In his statement, Patrick Henry addresses the oppressive British rule and emphasis grounds to maintain basic human rights. “Common Sense”, on the other hand stresses on the trials and tribulations of the American colonies under the British rule. With the use of persuasion in their writings, both Henry and Paine support the war against the Great Britain.

    Read More

  • Gordon Wood’s Radicalism of the American Revolution

    1486 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gordon Wood gives an interesting insight into the Revolution. Overall, I find Wood’s argument to be persuasive and refreshing. There is little doubt that the forces that Wood proclaims as significant in his history of the Revolution are important. However, it is this same concentration on non-traditional forces that leads to my criticism of his book.

    Read More

  • Paine and Henry´s Influence on the American Revolution

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a time full of chaos, desperation, and dissenting opinions, two definitive authors, Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry, led the way toward the American Revolution. Both men demanded action of their separate audiences. Paine wrote to inspire the commoners to fight while Henry spoke extemporaneously to compel the states’ delegates to create an army. Despite the differences between the two, both had very similar arguments which relied heavily upon God, abstract language, and ethos. In the end, both men were able to inspire their audiences and capture the approval and support of the masses. If not for these two highly influential and demanding men, the America that we know today might not exist.

    Read More

  • The American crisis by Thomas Paine

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    During 1776, the United States was at war to gain its own independence from the hands of the tyrant King George III and his kingdom. As the fightt continued, the spirits of the U.S. soldiers began to die out as the nightmares of winter crawled across the land. Thomas Paine, a journalist, hoped to encourage the soldiers back into the fight through one of his sixteen pamphlets, “The American Crisis (No.1)”. In order to rebuild the hopes of the downhearted soldiers, Thomas Paine establishes himself as a reliable figure, enrages them with the crimes of the British crown, and, most importantly evokes a sense of culpability.

    Read More

  • Liberalism And The American Revolution Joyce Appleby Analysis

    1055 Words  | 3 Pages

    Bernard Bailyn, Jack Greene, Edmund Morgan, Gordon Wood, and Richard Buel are just a few of these historians that are reshaping the historical view of the revolution, by reestablishing the way the revolutionaries viewed their time in their own eyes. The internal and external values of the colonists have supreme effect on the nature and ideals of the time, far more than can ever be fully appreciated. The maximum effect was on behavior, which, in turn, affects every other aspect of life. The weight of one’s moral compass affects all of their decisions, thus, certainly impacting the decisions of others. Those in high power or respect set the attitude for the population to follow. Apart from the rebels and anomalies, the general population will follow the suits of those they admire, whether by conscious choice, enforced by their parents, or simply internalized

    Read More

  • Intercalary Themes In 'The Grapes Of Wrath'

    354 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses intercalary chapters to provide background for the various themes of the novel, as well to set the tone of the novel".

    Read More

  • Gender Identity Essay

    1148 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gender roles are not the product of innate biology; They are formed based on the cultural and societal beliefs that surround an individual during their development. These factors play a very important role in gender identity, and often lead individuals to believe in stereotypical representations of gender identity such as gender roles. The way in which these cultures interpret the expression of gender identity heavily impacts the way an individual chooses to express themselves.

    Read More

  • Essay On Sexuality And Sexuality

    1422 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sexuality is shaped by gender because gender in itself is a social construct. Sex is based on genetics, on whether or not you have a XX chromosome or a XY chromosome. Gender on the other hand is socially constructed. It’s how we perceive each other. For example, girls have long hair and wear pink but boys have short hair and are to be tough. Sexuality is further shaped by this because with gender, the world has only really ever had two categories, female and male, when really there could be more or there could be less.

    Read More

  • Race Essay

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    Broadly speaking, race is seen or is assumed to be a biologically driven set of boundaries that group and categorize people according to phenotypical similarities (e.g. skin color) (Pinderhughes, 1989; Root, 1998). The categorical classification of race can be traced back to the 16th century Linnaen system of human “races” where each race was believed to be of a distinct type or subspecies that included separate gene pools (Omi & Winant, 1994; Spickard, 1992; Smedley & Smedley, 2005). Race in the U.S. initially began as a general categorizing term, interchangeable with such terms as “type” or “species”. Over time, race began to morph into a term specifically referring to groups of people living in North America (i.e. European “Whites”, Native American “Indians”, and African “Negroes”). Race represented a new way to illustrate human difference as well as a way to socially structure society (Smedley & Smedley, 2005).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Just Kids By Patti Smith

    2075 Words  | 5 Pages

    Just Kids is a novel displaying elements of the American Dream, through Patti Smith’s experiences. Smith came to New York City in hopes of being an artist and was faced with a harsh reality when the friend that was suppose to offer her shelter, had moved away. She was left with nothing, sleeping on the streets, having nothing to eat, and desperately seeking a job. It was only by chance that she was

    Read More

  • Race Gender And Sexuality Essay

    1072 Words  | 3 Pages

    Coming into this course, I had little to no familiarity with the social construction theory and its relation to race, gender, and sexuality. Over the past eight weeks, my mind has opened up in many different ways. Now looking at race, gender, and sexuality as social constructions I have a great understanding as to how much society plays a role in shaping the lives of countless individuals. Looking back, I believe that my life has been heavily impacted by social construction, both within my family and also my peers. However, looking at things from a new perspective, I am confident that I now have more control over what societal factors I choose to let influence my life. If there is one thing that I have learned throughout this course, it is to be skeptical; don’t always “go with the flow”, it’s natural to question things. In the end, society always influences people as much as they allow it

    Read More

  • The Goal Of Education Rhetorical Analysis

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe that the purpose of education is to produce the next generation of leaders who are intelligent and have great character. This idea is supported in the article “The Purpose of Education” by Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights activist who fought for black and white people to have equal rights in America. He writes about the true purpose, and meaning of education in the article by saying, “Education must enable one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction (MLK1).” This quote from the article explains that being academically educated is very important. It will help people stand up, be a leader, and take charge to make the world a better place for everyone. That gallant leader will argue against the fallacy, lies,

    Read More

  • Promoting Imagination and The Desire to Care in The Classroom

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    I believe that the aim of education is to create well-rounded citizens in a democratic society. This means that students are not only being taught just the academic standards by also being taught social skills. The students will be able to be a citizen that will improve their society and be a person who is diverse and who is open to the differences in people. With this comes a couple of barriers, such as the desire to learn new things in both teachers and students in the classroom is lacking and the worker-as-machine model.

    Read More

  • Vision Of Education Essay

    1489 Words  | 3 Pages

    The educational system is plagued by disparities in achievement, the absence of pedagogical reform, and inclusive curricula. When students are deprived of fair and equitable educational opportunities this hinders their ability to flourish and grow into healthy learners. Lundberg and Ornstein said it best, children develop best through a foundation of diverse education, essential elements of the Humanistic Learner Centered ideology, culturally responsive teaching, and culturally responsive curriculum development as well as, character

    Read More

More about Grapes Of Wrath - Allusion

Open Document