Conformity In The Grapes Of Wrath Essay

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Biblical Allusions and Non-Conformity in The Grapes of Wrath
With the decline in participation among organized conformist groups such as religious sects in the modern day, the enlightened and spiritual sense of self- reliance seems to become increasingly relevant. Self- reliance is the concept that man should trust his intuition and place a high value on his thoughts and revelations instead of doubting his intellect. This ideology stems from the movement of Transcendentalism, which honors man’s pure individuality. As one of the main contributors to Transcendentalist thought, Ralph Waldo Emerson condemns acts of conformity and forces such as society that hinder people’s confidence in their self-worth. Influenced by the spiritual and metaphysical …show more content…

The mother of the Joad family serves as a stable figure from which people draw strength and comfort. Her pregnant daughter, Rose of Sharon, experiences the desertion of her spouse and the cruel taunts of a highly religious and superstitious woman and Ma reassuringly comes to her aid. Along with Rose of Sharon, Ma helps many people despite the limited resources her family possesses. When cooking a meat stew that is limited in servings, Ma still manages to provide some sparring for a few children who “stood stiffly and looked at her...Their eyes [following] the spoon from pot to plate..(269). In like manner, Sairy Wilson, a sick, elderly woman graciously helps the Joad family during the passing of a family member. Sairy despite her illness selflessly aids the Joads and hides her pain as not to cause any burden, “She stared into the sky and braced her body firmly against the pain”(156). In contrast to Ma and Sairy’s frequent displays of kindness, Rose of Sharon for the majority of the book is absorbed in her pregnancy and the best care for her and her unborn baby. It is not until later on when Rose of Sharon delivers a stillborn, that she embraces this selflessness and compassion that is expressed by Ma and Sairy, when she offers her breast milk to an elderly man. Rose of Sharon afterward “smiles mysteriously” implicating that Rose of Sharon has finally grasped the realization of the oversoul; the theory that there is a spiritual unity among all beings(479). Steinbeck reinforces his biblical allusions with this famous ending scene with Rose of Sharon and the sickly man by displaying a resurrection of health in the old man and the hope of the future. These acts of selflessness shown by the women in The Grapes of Wrath are reflective of the aspect of Transcendentalism that celebrates the good in

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