Biblical Figures In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck he creates many biblical parallels. He makes several characters into biblical figures. However, he not only makes characters into biblical figures, but he also parallels the events that happen in the Bible to events in the book. The most obvious of the characters is the ex-preacher, Jim Casy. The first hint Steinbeck gives is that Jim Casy and Jesus Christ both have the same initials. Casy even compares himself to Jesus in the story saying:

“I ain’t sayin’ I’m like Jesus…But I got tired like Him, an’ I got mixed up like Him, an’ I went into the wilderness like Him, without no campin’ stuff…Sometimes I’d pray like I always done. On’y I couldn’ figure what I was prayin’ to or for. There was the hills,

Another thing he has in common with Christ is that he travels with twelve people just as Christ traveled with the twelve apostles. Also, for a period of time Casy also goes out to reflect by himself just as Jesus did. Jesus knew he was going to be killed just as Casy knew he was going to die when he stood up for what he believed in. Casy is killed by the wood of a club just like Christ was killed on the wooden cross. They both did this act for sacrifice for the lives of many men. Before Casy was hit, he said, “You fellas don’ know what you’re doin’” (Steinbeck 527). This quote is similar to when Jesus is dying on the cross and says, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they

Tom shows characteristics of Peter when Casy is killed because immediately after the death he takes the club and beats the man. This is a parallel to when Jesus was taken in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter cut off the guard’s ear after Jesus was taken. Tom also starts speaking like a preacher. When Tom is talking about the death of his grandpatents Pa say, “Here’s Tommy talkin’ like a growed-up man, talkin’ like a preacher almos’” (Steinbeck 313). Although Steinbeck parallels the characters to people in the Bible, he also has events that parallel, starting with their journey. During their long journey they are looking for their promised land, also known as California. This symbolizes the Israelites long journey into the promise land. Along their journey other bible related events happen as well. The Joads get to a cotton farm and the rain starts coming down very hard. It rains so much that the rain starts flooding the boxcar. Much like the biblical story of Noah and the Ark, the rain brings hope and new life. During this flood Rose of Sharon goes into labor. She soon has a baby that is supposed to change the world. The baby comes out stillborn. The Joad family asks Uncle John if he would bury the baby. Uncle John decides instead of burying the baby he will float it in a box down the river so the people can see what they are doing to human life and