The Symbolic Significance of the Grapes of Wrath

The Symbolic Significance of the Grapes ofWrathByAmmySupervisor：lv shengtongMay 12, 2012AbstractThe Grapes of Wrath is the representative of John Steinbeck, one of the famous American authors of the Great Depression. An outstanding character of this novel is the use of symbolism. The characters in the novel and the natural scenery are given deep symbolic significance. This article analyses the Symbolic Significances ofdifferent people and scenery in the novel.Key words: The Grapes of Wrath symbolism the characters the naturalsceneryOutlineThe Grapes of Wrath is an epic that reflects the depression era in America in the 30s. The most salient feature of it is the use of symbolism, including the character symboland scenery symbol.1. Introduction2. Character symbols2.1 The symbol of Jim2.2 The symbol of Tom2.3 The symbol of Tom’s mother3. Scenery symbols3.1 The symbol of grapes3.2 The symbol of dust4. Conclusion1．IntroductionThe Grapes of Wrath, telling a tragic story of a westward, is based on the background of the bankrupt of the people in the depression in American. Tom, the protagonist, with his family and Jim, the pastor, advanced to the California by an old truck, hoping that they could make a living in the California, a wealthy land. They went through all kinds of difficulties on the way to California, including the breakdown of the old truck, the death of grandpa and grandma one after another, the oppression of the local people and so on. Finally they arrived in the California. However, they were still unemployed, poor, and were maltreated and ruthless exploited by the farmer in the so called “paradise”—California. So the whole familycould only lead a hard life relied on the farms.2. Character symbols2.1 The symbol of JimJim Casy is a priest. J·C is the first written letters of Jim Casy, which happens to be the abbreviations of Jesus Christ. “You don’t know what you have done.” said Jim before he died. And on Christ’s dying moments, he said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are.” Comparing the two sentences, they are the same meaning. When Jim first met Tom, he said, “The Holy Spirit asks me to guide you, but where on earth lead you to, I don’t know.” All these things imply that Jim is the symbol of Christ. Just like Christ who leads the Twelve Apostles to Long Pilgrimages to help people get rid of tribulation, Jim lead those internally displaced people toward California, a place thought to be full of hope and wealthy. Ultimately, he dedicate for them. This behavior embodies the devotion of Jesus Christ to save people.2.2 T he symbol of T omTom is the nickname of Thomas, which is one of the Twelve Apostles. There happen to be twelve members in Tom’s family, which means that they are the symbols of the Twelve Apostles. Tom hit the police bravely after Jim was killed by the police. After that, he thought what Jim had said to him again and again. Finally he got the meaning of “A man does not have its own soul, only a part of the soul.” andleft his family because he was afraid he would get them into trouble.2.3 The symbol of T om’s motherAnother extremely unique character is Tom’s mother. She appeared as ordinary peasant women in the beginning of the novel. By the leading of Minister Jim and under the force of the harsh reality, she jumped out of the circle, shining the brightness of the virgin. The good virtue of honest working women appeared on her. On the way to the California, she helped Casey when everybody was facing unsteady waters; she shared her food with the poor children, even her family could not have enough to eat; and she is still a spirit guide in her family because she guidance Tom to read the bible when he was in confusion. Therefore, Tom’ mother turned into a great mother of concerning the whole labor class. She is regarded as the incarnation of goddess.3. Scenery symbols3.1 The symbol of grapesGrapes in the Old Testament ·Numbers symbolize the abundance and hope. In the Old Testament ·Deuteronomy, it symbolizes bitter, and in the New Testament ·Revelation, it contacts with anger. The writer puts the containing meaning of grape into this novel. In the 30s in American, the modern industrialized farming makes the bankruptcy farmers homeless. So these people regard California that abounds in grapes as land of covenant. The grapes symbolize their dreams of a new life and the hope of making a living. But when they arrived at the California, most of them could not find jobs, but were oppressed by the employers and thepolices. Under the circumstances, the symbol of grapes turn into bitter and anger. So the grapes are the symbol of abundance and hope, bitter and anger.3.2 T he symbol of dustAt the beginning of the novel, the dust was flying everywhere, and devoured the creatures, devoured the light, it is a symbol of evil forces. The evil force on one hand is hostile to the poor natural environment. Because of the years of drought, whirling dust everywhere, the land was destroyed, it brings the farmers unprecedented trial and suffering. On the other hand, it also represents a lot of big banks and large enterprise. In order to obtain more profits, they used tractor forced the tenants out from their land to live on.4. ConclusionIn the Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck grants characters and natural scenery deep symbolic significance. The symbolism of the characters is mainly embodied in the pastor, Jim, Tom, and Tom’s mother. The priest, Jim k is Jesus’ incarnation, Tom is the symbol of Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles, and Tom’s mother is the symbol of the virgin. The symbol of the natural scenery is grapes and dust. The grapes implied trebling meaning, for one, it represents thousands of the oppression of the poor people in; second, it symbolizes the abundance and hope; third, it also symbolizes the pain and anger. Dust symbolizes evil forces. Although each symbolic significance that the characters and scenery contain is not identical, but because John Steinbeck’s well combining, the theme can be well expressed.。