Power of Religion in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath Essay

The Power of Religion in joke Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbecks epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath, chronicles the struggles of the Joads as they join the thousands of fellow Okies in a throng migration westward. The Joads reluctantly leave behind their Oklahoma farm in hunt of work and food in California. While Steinbeck writes profoundly and emotionally intimately the political problems of the Great Depression, his characters also show evidence of a tardily concern with spirituality. When they feel hopeless and are uncertain about their adjacent future, their concentration on religion dwindles. On the other hand, when they leave their home, the Joads be restored spiritual credit they have something to live for California. Once they arrive and specify only more difficulties, they lose their sense that better things are forward of them and gravitate back towards thinking politi cry (out)y. However, they finally return to the source of their first faith--religion-- at their most desperate time. One of the first characters Steinbeck introduces (after turkey cock Joad) is the reason preacher Jim Casy, who questions his own faith in his initial conversation with Tom Aint got the call to preach no more. Got a lot of sinful idears-but they seem sooner sensibleThe sperits strong in me, ony it aint the sameHere I got the sperit sometimes an nothin to preach about. I got the call to lead the slew, an no place to lead em (Steinbeck 20-21). His skepticism precludes him from preaching. He facilitate recognizes the importance of his religion, but he is no longer sure of its design in the times of hopelessness. Casy could not preach when neither he nor those to whom he preached had a purpose. When guided by a goal, though, he pro... ...gles with their own faith in the midst of hunger, poverty, homelessness and loss of family are enlightening, and can inspire people who are not in that terrible situation to reconsider themselves. field of study Ci tedSteinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. bleak York Penguin Books, 1998.Works ConsultedConder, John J. Steinbeck and Natures Self The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck, Modern unfavorable Views. New York Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 125-140.French, Warren. John Steinbeck. Boston Twayne Publishers, 1975.Levant, Howard. The Fully Matured imposture The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck, Modern Critical Views. New York Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 35-62.Lojek, Helen. Jim Casy Politico of the New Jerusalem. Steinbeck Quarterly, Winter-Spring 1982. 30-37.The New American Bible, Gospel of John. 2334. New York The Catholic Press, 1976.