Parallel Events in the Grapes of Wrath - 1258 Words

this was for a practice ap essay The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, has many parallel or recurring events throughout the novel, five of the major repeated themes would include the references to the Bible and Jesus Christ, the continuous praising of socialism, the changes that Ma goes through on the trip, and the changing definition of family on the trip to and in California. Beginning in chapter four, where Tom first meets Jim Casy, there starts a trend of religious references; the first major reference is Jim Casy singing Jesus is my Baby. Jim is a retired preacher, who doesnt believe in the religion that he has been preaching all his life. Jim is a character who resembles Jesus Christ, a person who chooses to go on†¦show more content†¦One of the most significant recurring events in The Grapes of Wrath is the change that Ma goes though. At the beginning of the novel, Ma is described based on her appearance, while Pa is described on his character. Ma was a typical woman in this time period; she never interrupted when the men of the house were having a conversation. In the family meeting, she started to speak her mind, but then got quite so Pa could talk, because he was a man. By the middle of the novel, after things started going wrong on the road, Ma begins to take control of situations, telling Pa and the other men what will happen and how th e plan is set up. Near the end of the novel, after Pa has given up hope for the family, Ma takes command of all situations, for instance, when Agness parents come to the family to talk about Al, they speak to Ma, not Pa. Mas character change is an important part of the novel, because while the men in the novel tend to see life in short little spurts, the women see life as a never-ending circle, and they understand life must go on, no matter what. The sudden change in Mas nature shows early signs of the soon to be womens suffrage. The last big recurring theme in this book is the changing idea of what family is. While back in Oklahoma, Ma spoke about her family, and she included her aunts, uncles, cousins,Show MoreRelatedBiblical Allusions to The Grapes of Wrath Essay example1457 Words   |  6 PagesBiblical Allusions to The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California, on February 27, 1902. He studied marine biology at Stanford University and then traveled east on a freighter through the Panama Canal. Steinbeck went to New York to work as a newspaper reporter but soon returned to California and held a variety of jobs while he wrote. Steinbeck published Tortilla Flat in 1935, Of Mice and Men in 1937, and The Red Pony in 1937, which established his reputation as a forcefulRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck2739 Words   |  11 PagesHeavren 15 Christian Symbolism in The Grapes of Wrath Since the first civilizations, religion has greatly influenced the development of life. 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In hopes of establishing a new life for themselves after being forced off their land the family embark on a journey from Oklahoma to California in search of fruitful crops and steady work alongRead MoreGrapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck3897 Words   |  16 PagesHave you ever realized that John Steinbeck talked about Religion in his book Grapes of Wrath? Well, if your answer is NO, let me inform you that Steinbeck did talk about Religion in his book. There are many similarities in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath and Christ’s story. In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck presents religion in different ways ranging from Jim Casy’s similarities to Christ, the use of Christian theology, and the symbolism of some characters as pasto rs. Throughout his book, Steinbeck