Grapes Of Wrath Analysis Essay Example

of Jesus by Ernest Renan discusses Pure Ebionism, a doctrine that asserts only the poor will be saved and that the reign of the poor is imminent. This parallels Jesus Christ, as well as Jim Casy and the entire book, The Grapes of Wrath. The country and nature have been seized by wealthy individuals, banks, owners, and institutions; however, as the book suggests, "And the association of owners knew that some day the praying would stop.""These people will always carry on, one day they will take action, there will be a fight, and quite possibly an end to the misfortune and a reign of prevailing prosperity," implies that these individuals will persist and eventually bring about change. In alignment with this sentiment, John Steinbeck and Jim Casy, among many other migrants, advocate for charity, helping others, and a cessation of the insatiable hunger for wealth and self-indulgence.

In Chapter eight, as Casy says grace, he draws a parallel between himself and Jesus: "I been in the hills, thinkin', almost you might say like Jesus wen into the wilderness to think His way out of troubles." Casy starts to feel confounded, troubled, and burdened by his faith. However, after retreating to the wilderness and reconnecting with nature, he has become a transformed individual with newfound faith. It is worth noting that Casy's beliefs do not precisely align with traditional Christianity, as Christ himself deviated from the established Hebrew perception of God. Similar to Christ's experiences, Casy ends up incarcerated and eventually incites antagonism from those in power, leading to his brutal demise.He died, resembling Christ in his words to those who crucified him, expressing, "You don't know

what you're doing." Jim Casy embodied traits similar to Jesus Christ, but his personality extended beyond this comparison. Jim Casy possessed an exceptionally open-minded and unbiased personality. He believed in the equal creation of every individual regardless of physical differences, political affiliation, or social status. This belief was evident in his choice of never speaking hurtful words towards others, sacrificing his own well-being to rally and increase the pay of fellow workers, and remaining steadfast when he and his companions endured derogatory insults. Jim Casy perpetually held gratitude towards the Joads for accompanying him on his journey and often mentioned plans to repay them by going off independently. He stated, "I want to do what is best for you folks. You took me in, supported me. I will do whatever is necessary." Despite his desperate need for money, Casy never asked for financial contributions while preaching because he recognized the financial struggles faced by his audience.Casy, in chapter four, expressed his belief that he brought Jesus to people without asking for much in return, just a meal. He believed that we all possess a fraction of a larger soul, and because of this, everyone is inherently holy and equal. Tom also shared a similar sentiment, as he once ventured into the wilderness to find his own soul, only to discover that he possessed only a small part of a much grander soul. This concept solidifies the notion of equality and universal holiness. Moreover, Casy embraced the idea of harmony and unity among individuals. He believed that since we are all interconnected and part of something greater than ourselves, it is crucial to assist and collaborate

with one another; otherwise, we will all be lost. Casy questioned why it is necessary to solely rely on God or Jesus when the love shared among men and women could be the Holy Spirit—the human spirit encompassing everything. He proposed that every individual contributes to one unified soul. Casy regarded cooperation among people as a holy act, stating that working together as a cohesive unit is more significant than individual endeavors.Tom once shared that Casy recited Ecclesiastes 4 to him, which states that two people working together will have a better reward for their labor. If one person falls, the other can help them up, but it is unfortunate for the person who is alone and has no one to help them. Additionally, two people lying together can generate warmth, whereas one person alone cannot. If one person is attacked, two people can defend against the attacker, and a threefold cord is difficult to break. Tom Joad also expressed a belief similar to Casy's notion, suggesting that humans do not possess individual souls but rather pieces of a greater whole. Tom declared that he would be everywhere one looks. Casy, although resembling Jesus Christ in his manner and being harmonious, struggled with personal conflicts. In The Grapes of Wrath, Casy continuously battles with his faith, questioning the traditional ideals of God and Jesus that he previously spread to others. He begins to doubt his own beliefs and what is written in the Bible.Casy suffered from insomnia and isolation as he contemplated his doubts about God, Jesus, and the afterlife. He transformed from a devoted follower of God to a supporter of humanity as a

whole. In his own words, Casy expressed his uncertainty about loving Jesus and how he only knew stories but loved people instead. This led him to embrace and tolerate unconventional behavior.

Casy's newfound beliefs not only questioned the existence of God and Jesus, but also challenged the teachings of the Bible and the actions of a typical preacher. Unlike the Bible, which condemns certain situations, labels, sexual orientations, behavior, and practices, Casy believed that one should not pass judgment on others but focus on self-evaluation. He disregarded the concept of right or wrong and believed in following one's own feelings.Casy once confessed that he engaged in promiscuity without even realizing it while preaching. He described instances when he neglected his responsibilities, preached to girls, and then continued to have intimate encounters with them. He believed that there is neither sin nor virtue, but rather a spectrum of actions that people undertake. Some actions are good while others are not, but a man should not pass judgment beyond that. This hedonistic moral code, prioritizing pleasure over rules and rejecting punishment, is atypical for someone who used to be a preacher. Casy faced a conflict within himself as he grappled with his personal faith and the contradictory nature of his actions and words, which went against the expectations of a devout man. His inner being underwent a transformation as he transitioned from a man of contemplation to a man of action.At the beginning of the book, Casy spent many nights without sleep and many days remaining silent while deep in thought. Tom noticed Casy's lack of words and confronted him about it: "Hey, Casy, you've been unusually quiet

lately...you haven't said much in the past few days." Casy himself struggled to speak, expressing his frustration: "Listen, Tom. It's so difficult to say anything." Early on, he mentioned that there were events happening and people doing things, and if one pays attention, they can sense restlessness. There are actions being taken by these individuals that others are unaware of. Eventually, something significant will emerge from all these people heading west. It will bring about a change that will impact the entire country. Later on, Casy no longer merely predicts this change; he actively participates in it by going on strike outside a peach-picking facility.He had spent a lot of time contemplating the current environment, but eventually he transforms his opposition towards authority into physical actions by kicking a cop who was causing trouble in Hooverville. Later, Casy bravely accepts responsibility for the altercation and is sent to jail, sacrificing his own well-being for the sake of others. Besides his internal struggles, Casy also faced external conflicts with society. He encountered difficulties while attempting to organize the migrants. After being released from jail, he, along with other wise men, demonstrated outside a peach-picking camp to demand higher wages. While he successfully rallied those few men and maintained fair wages during their strike, he was unable to persuade the other workers to join him. "Tell them that the people picking peaches are starving us and harming themselves in the process."'Because surely as cowflops, she'll drop to two and a half just as soon as they clear us out,' Casy commented, indicating that unless the people in the camp took action, such as going on strike, they

would undermine themselves since the wages would decrease. However, the camp inhabitants were solely focused on the current five they were earning and disregarded everything else. Casy's efforts to mobilize them failed not only due to their present-mindedness but also because they feared organizing. Any recognized leader would promptly be incarcerated or intimidated by the police. The migrants faced discrimination and were subjected to derogatory terms in an attempt to control them. Society aimed to keep them constantly on the move, making it impossible for them to unite. There was once a man who initiated the unification of people in jail.Later, the people he was trying to help rejected him due to fear of being associated with him. His efforts to unite constantly fail, such as when he tells a police officer about starving children and the officer violently attacks him. Jim Casy faces additional challenges when he encounters law enforcement, including a physical altercation with a deputy in chapter 20. In a separate incident, an officer threatened to set fire to the camp where Casy's friends were staying. Whenever Casy attempts to organize people, the police consistently disrupt their efforts. "We tried to camp together, and the cops treated us like animals. They scattered us and violently beat us. They treated us like swine... We can't endure much longer. Some people haven't eaten in two days," Casy expressed. He also mentioned that the police cause more trouble than they prevent. This man has witnessed hostility and animosity yet remains unafraid.In conclusion, Jim Casy can be seen as a Christ-like, harmonious and unprovincial character who has faced various challenges including organization, authority, his own faith,

how others perceive him, and his own evolving personality. Despite being labeled as an "Okie", a hobo or someone without virtues, both The Grapes of Wrath and Jim Casy symbolize hope, dreams, spirit and the interconnectedness of all humanity. Personally, I view Jim Casy as a role model for those who seek original thinking. His defiance of organized religion is thought-provoking and inspiring, while his prophetic views on nature and his selfless love for people are truly beautiful.The essence of Jim Casy's understanding, dreams, love, hope, and belief in an almighty holiness can be summarized in the following quote: "An' Almighty God never raised no wages. These here folks want to live decent and bring up their kids decent. An' when they're old they wanta set in the door an' watch the downing sun. An' when they're young they wanta dance an' sing an' lay together. They wanta eat an' get drunk and work. An' that's it - they wanta jus' fling their goddamn muscles aroun' and get tired."