Several times throughout the novel, Jim Casy primarily, but other characters as well, suggest the concept that mankind is more successful when they act as if they are connected by one great "soul", as opposed to being individuals only looking out for themselves. Through the preacher's experiences, he has learned from man's mistakes and failures, including his own, and comes to the conclusion that there is more power in "we" than "me".Consider how Casy's vision of this "oversoul" applies to our course's focus on family, and how we define that term. In The Grapes of Wrath, there are many examples of blood relatives struggling together through hard times, but there are also people who prefer to fend for themselves. Furthermore, there are numerous examples of bonds forming between humans who are not biologically connected, but are sharing in a common experience that tests their ability to adapt to new circumstances.
As a class, discuss what Steinbeck's novel suggests about family, human connections, and survival of the fittest. Have society's views and practices changed over the past century in relation to the novel's setting and characters' beliefs? Provide specific details from the text and beyond to demonstrate your understanding and generate conversation.
(Make one substantial comment on this post, and at least two short responses to your classmates' comments. See rubric for specific requirements.)
The Oversoul
ReplyDeleteBy: Samantha Cummings
In the novel, The Grapes of Wrath, Jim Casy speaks about how people are stronger when they stick with their families or with a group people, rather than trying to survive on their own.
Staying with others you are reminded that you are needed within your family, and will always have people to lean on. In the novel, Steinbeck discusses the importance family has when having to fight for survival, as the family constantly has to split the little food they have between themselves and the friends they make on their journey because they believe that the more people they are, the stronger they will be. In today’s society, the views and practices relating to the novel’s setting and character’s beliefs have not changed relating to the aspect that when times get rough you must stick together, and that you are just as strong as your weakest member. For instance, Tom was just as strong as Winfield or Ruthie during this time because each member had a duty to contribute to their family, and the two young members were always gathering up sticks or collecting water which helped the family enormously.
In the novel, the Joad’s family got far on their journey because they remained together and did not fear allowing others to join them, for instance Ma mentions, If you’re in trouble, or hurt or need- go to the poor people. They’re the only ones that’ll help- the only ones (Steinbeck.p.394). This explains that this group of people were not selfish, and felt the more they were the more united they would become. Also, many people need their family in order to survive, Ma Joad was a character who could not survive on her own, she needed her family as much as they needed her. She walked for the family and held her head straight for the family (Steinbeck.ch.13). In the play, King Lear, Lear was stronger when he had Cordelia and Kent by his side, and was constantly protected from others trying to betray him. But when losing these members in his family, he felt alone and useless because he had no one to love him or stand with him.
In today’s society people still lay more trust upon their families, rather than only relying on themselves, especially when times get hard. Today, social media plays an important role in keeping families together, especially having family members that live far from their home towns. When problems happen people still tend to communicate and rely on their families for support and advice, rather than holding in their emotions. I agree with the statement that people are stronger when together, rather than being alone because families or strong bonded groups will always conquer together and will never leave someone out and will share what they have with their loved ones.
In conclusion, I believe that people are stronger when they are in a group of people/ family rather than fended just for themselves. The Grapes of Wrath proved this theory as the family continued to stick together, as every member was an essential in some way. Today’s society has changed from the past, but family orientation views have not as people still depend on their families.
Bibliography
Steinbeck, J. (1939). The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press-James Lloyd.
Your comment referring to King Lear and how he was stronger when he had Cordelia and Kent by his side is interesting as I know see how well the two story lines connect!
DeleteI agree with many of your points, but one stood out for me. When you pointed out that one is only as strong as their weakest link, it got me thinking. I agree with this point and your connection to Ruthie and Whinfield but I also think that there is more to a groups strength than just the obvious physical strength that is seen in plain sight. It is known that not everyone in the Joad family is mentally stable, for example Uncle John is depressed, he has eternal guilt for what happened to his late wife and baby and this affects the family greatly. When Uncle John is down it burdens the family and causes them to suffer just like John is. This is seen at the Hooverville camp, when John resorts to alcohol and temporarily goes missing. This causes the family to pick him back up (literally) and get him back on track, temporarily pausing other issues, like the fact that both Connie and Noah have left. This shows that there is more to a group/family dynamic than meets the eye. Yes, they are only as strong as their weakest members but they are also only as happy as their saddest.
DeleteSamantha, I agree with Steinbeck’s view that people are stronger together. It is even backed up by scientific evidence. For instance, in 2009, Oxford University researchers found that sports teams that train together can tolerate twice as much pain as team members that train individually. This effectively demonstrates that we are far stronger and can tolerate much more pain and hardship in a group setting. It seems obvious to me that we need to gather and draw strength from one another. Even the proverb, “many hands make light work,” implies that by working together, a lot more can be achieved than by one individual going at it alone. This can be seen in current events. For example, in Hong Kong, demonstrators gathered in huge numbers to protest a proposed change in the law. This change would have dramatically limited the rights of the citizens of Hong Kong. Due to the size of the demonstration, the government decided to cancel this proposal indefinitely. All of these examples demonstrate the power of “we.”
DeleteWorks Cited
Walgrove, Amanda. “7 Studies That Prove People Work Better in Teams.” Cross Over, 2016, blog.crossover.com/7-studies-that-prove-people-work-better-in-teams-productivity. Accessed 16 June 2019.
In The Grapes of Wrath, Jim Casy suggests that if humans help each other, they can get through everything. His vision of the oversoul is the combined humanities spirit, which is more powerful than God. He believes that church is a place where you can find a sense of community, not God guiding our lives.
ReplyDelete“Blood vs water” and family are both extremely important in this novel. These topics also relate to our course’s focus as well as Jim Casy’s beliefs. Anyone could read the book and take a different perspective on the characters behaviors and how they go through their journey. In my opinion, blood is thicker than water in this novel. Most of the Joad’s stay together throughout their long journey, with the exception of some members who decide to leave. Multiple times throughout the book, there are members of the Joad family suggesting splitting up for the better, but we see Ma always forbidding this. The idea of staying with the same group, in this case blood related family, to benefit everyone and survive is seen in this novel. We can connect the “oversoul” topic to blood relatives helping each other and being united.
There is another side to the concept of blood bonds being stronger, which is water (non-blood related bonds) being stronger. This is also seen very often in the novel. There is a quote in the novel which really shows how multiple families on their own journey’s end up helping each other. “The twenty families became one family, the children were the children of all. The loss of home became one loss, and the golden time in the West was one dream.” (p. 202) Before continuing, to take this quote further and place it into modern times, we see families becoming one through blended families. This happens when two families become one, where the stepparents become in some way, parents to their non-related children. Now back to the novel, the Wilson’s joining the Joad’s, Ma giving stew to the children at Weedpatch as well as the Joad’s being generous to offer multiple people the chance to join them on their journey are all great examples of water being thicker than blood. During the story, we see how families are able to bond together to form one big family.
I have never been a believer in “blood vs water”, as I think non-blood relations can be much stronger than genetic families, but The Grapes of Wrath shows a lot of family related connections. We see the love the Joad’s share for each other, as they do everything they can for everyone to survive and have hope. The book does show the two different perspectives on the “blood vs water” topic, as we see the Wilson’s helping out the Joad’s and more. However, when it comes to his blog prompt, family, human connections and survival are definitely seen through blood related bonds. To sum, the concept of mankind being more successful when people act as one soul is clearly shown in this novel through the journey of the Joad family.
Bibliography
Steinbeck, J. (1939). The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press. James Lloyd.
N/A. “When two families become one.” The Parenting Place, n.d. https://www.theparentingplace.com/marriage-relationships/when-two-families-become-one/
I agree when you say that you were never a believer in the blood vs water concept. Blood is not always thicker than water and that this novel shows the opposite as the Joad`s family bond is so strong. The book really had me questioning my views on the topic.
DeleteI agree that in the Grapes of Wrath it demonstrates both theories of "Blood vs. Water" because it demonstrates how the family bond is extremely valuable but also how the new-comers they meet become important assets to their family and become new members. This message the book sends to the audience is very similar to the novel "The Orphan's Tale", of loving a child that isn't yours but still being a strong family. I do not agree with the statement "blood is thicker than water" but in the novel i can see how being blood-related can help keep families together during these times.
DeleteAs someone who stands on the side “water is thicker than blood”, I agree with your point. I believe that a family is what you make of it, but this story inspires me and shows that family is one of the first true bonds. The Joads’ are a family that sticks by each other through all the hardships of the dustbowl. Ma keeps the family together in a strong and feminist way, which was not seen much in the 30s’. In the begging of the novel, she is already strong, but she only increases this trait as the journey goes on. She firmly believes in the saying “blood is thicker than water” due to how she always made sure that her family stayed together. For example, in chapter 16 when the Wilsons car breakdown, Tom and Casy volunteer to stay back and fix the car while the rest go on. Ma makes sure this does not happen and she sets the family back on their journey just so they can stick together.
DeleteThis novel made me rethink where I stood on this subject. Not only does this prove how blood is very valuable, but it also shows the traditional farming family that is comparable to our town. Having friends who’ve had their family living in Vankleek Hill for over 200 years, it shows that not much changes. Tradition is something that people take pride in, and the Joads’ sticking together is a prime example of this.
Jim Casy, a character in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”, demonstrates the importance of family and the power of the Oversoul as a crowd.
ReplyDeleteUpon starting the novel, we find this man has no blood relation to any of them but is a friend, someone the family used to know as a preacher. We see how he is in the same situation as the many others throughout the novel that have no real source of sustaining income, and this helps them relate and form an instant bond together. They realize that they are not that much different and can potentially help each other out and have a better chance in a fight when working as a team.
When considering him throughout the novel, he helps them in many ways that show the general power of the Oversoul. Take, for example, in chapter 13 of the novel when Grandpa died and the entire family and others were struck with pain and heartache over his loss. Although Jim Casy was no longer a preacher anymore and it most likely was very difficult for him and his conscience, he did make an exception for this family. He said a prayer even though it contradicted his own beliefs. This was because he saw their shattered hearts how much they were assisting him on this journey. After the prayer, the family was calm and able to relax, comforted by the thought that Grandpa’s suffering was over and he was in Heaven. This helps show readers that making small sacrifices for others, even though they may contradict your personal beliefs and conscience, can go a long way and help them in recovering. It also demonstrates the power of humanity when united as one in the same way as the ideology of the Oversoul by showing their confidence and determination afterwards despite the bitter sadness felt from this loss.
Another way where Jim Casy shows the power of the Oversoul is when he turns himself in for a crime he did not commit. In chapter 20 of “The Grapes of Wrath”, Floyd is accused of causing trouble at a contractor’s place and it eventually leads up to a fight between the officers. After Floyd starts to make a run for it, Tom trips a deputy officer. When Jim considers all that the Joads have done for him and how this would ruin the family, he decides to step up to the plate and take the spot as the one guilty for it. It would have also caused him more harm to see the family divided afterwards, so he takes one for the team and gets arrested for it. This helps show the strength in the bonds between people who, although not blood related, mean just as much as family.
The Oversoul in today’s world is very much used. With communities worldwide that support each other to make changes in society that were once taboo. For instance, this month is LGBTQ+ Pride Month and it is a time of celebration for those who are in this community and support those who are involved. There are parades and other events that occur that bring together people of all sorts that, when put to the test, stand together firm for their beliefs as a group and fight for justice.
Overall, as a pessimistic person I believe that society will never live in a perfect, utopian world. It is just impossible for anyone to ever achieve. However, we can try to make changes for the better that will make a situation better, and the Oversoul as demonstrated throughout the novel "The Grapes of Wrath" shows the power of the people when we stand together.
Bibliography
Steinbeck, J. (1939). The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press-JamesLloyd
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DeleteI don’t blame you for thinking that society will never be perfect, with everyone living in harmony together. It just isn’t possible. Look at all of the events in history… World wars are triggered because people don’t want to work together and want more power for themselves. The Atlantic slave trade was another huge event in history that proves how people don’t care for others that they see are “lesser than them.” And finally, the holocaust which is a genocide to ultimately get rid of a race, so that the Nazis could have supremacy.
DeleteNow there isn’t only these very important historical events, but we are now 7 billion people living on the planet. Conflict is destined to happen. As the conflict theory states: society is organized into two groups (those with and those without power.) This means that society is constantly experiencing change due to competition over resources. This is another reason that shows why the humans of the earth could never all live in perfect accord.
Like you said, small changes can definitely help us achieve a better society, being that people help each other out. We see that throughout the GOW with many different characters such as the Wilsons and Jim Casy, whom you mentioned. But society as a whole would not be able to achieve a “togetherness”. This too we see in GOW with the “bank”, government and etc. They are against the migrant workers. Social classes will never allow society to be seen as equal, which to me, means that we can never be united together for the better.
Quick question for all of my peers… Do you think that society will ever get better? I know we are making some improvements with communities initiated to support people who feel left out and etc. But I’m talking large scale, as in the world as a whole, every country included. Will society accept everyone, without bias? Will society work together to help everyone?
** The information on the conflict theory was my knowledge from my online course, therefore I have no source for that information. **
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DeleteYour comment on the LGBTQ+ community is perfect when talking about the idea of the oversoul and strength in numbers. If you look back only a few years ago, gay marriage was illegal in the United States and it has since been legalized. This was a change that took thousands of protests, parades and political figures to make happen. The overwhelming amount of posts I have seen made by non LGBTQ+ members announcing that they are an ally, proves how much love and supports is out there from people who are not blood related or even in the same "community" as you. Speaking of communities, the "gay community" is a term often used when referring to people who are LGBTQ+. The Joad`s also referred to the government camps as communities and this is significant as they were groups of people who were struggling in similar ways who found strength in numbers. This was one way to make the message in Steinbeck`s novel relevant today.
DeleteJessica, to answer your questions, I don’t think that it is possible for all to be accepting of one another. The idea of a perfect world with all living in harmony together, as you mentioned, is impossible to achieve. I think this because no two people are the same. I mean we all have similarities and traits in common but there is not one person on the entire planet that is accepting to all. There will always be bias and there is no way to change this fact. In response to your question about all countries working together to be accepting of everyone, I think that this, as well, is quite impossible. Each country has a variety of different kinds of people who have different cultures and traditions, who follow different religions in which can contradict what another may preach. As an example, we can look back to the time of Shakespeare and the combating religions of this time, Catholicism and Protestantism. Both religions were present in one country and they could not get along. If people cannot be accepting of difference in their own country, how can there be acceptance in countries that don’t even share borders? Therefore, I think that worldwide acceptance is impossible because of human nature and the history that is evidence in proving that some difference cannot be accepted.
DeleteI truly believe that our society will never be perfect. We can see this through the LGBTQ+ issues and climate change. LGBTQ+ people have more freedom than in the past (in Western society). They are legally able to get married, to be who they are, and to create a community. But that doesn’t change the fact that other crisis’ happen every day. Climate change affects many people though it is still considered an opinion by governments around the world. Climate change deteriorates the world a places many people in poverty, just like the Joad’s. Climate change has transcended the imaginations of scientists and activists around the world, but climate change continues to prevail.
Deletehttps://www.conservation.org/stories/Pages/11-climate-change-facts-you-need- to know.aspx?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrpLoBRD_ARIsAJd0BIU4c8D9BOQEZPFrhdIiBpUfky2CmToxdMhyM7pmpWRdD1DvMkDs5FUaAsXiEALw_wcB
The Joad’s feel the effects of climate change as well. The only reason that they can’t grow crops is because they abuse the land. The rain doesn’t come because it’s not supposed to. This affects the social and economic lives of so many people, in the world and in literature. Coming together in unity, is the key to maybe finding some form of a perfect society.
Madeleine
Jessica, you pose an interesting question.
DeleteI believe that any kind of Utopian society where everyone accepts everyone can only be achieved through regulations of George Orwell proportions. It's unfortunate, but by having even a modicum of free will, we are also able to have free thought, and you cannot expect over seven billion people to all think and feel the same things. It's impossible and the road to achieving such a thing is unethical.
Jessica, to answer your question, I do not believe that society will ever improve to such a point where everyone is included without bias. However, I do believe that there may be change on a smaller scale. The basic flaws of the human condition will always be present in society; we will always hold ourselves back. There will always be people who are unwilling to put their differences aside for the good of others.
DeleteI agree with both of the sides equally; it is both better in some cases to stick together but in others to go their own separate ways. This novel I read called French Exit by Patrick Dewitt totally goes with sticking together is key. Within the novel this mother rejects help throughout the story but in the end it all gets caught up and she realizes all she needed was not to run but to stick together. This did unfortunately lead her to take her own life. Where on the other hand in another book I’ve read called The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is about the journey of a hobbit and a group of dwarfs plus a wizard on the search for lost treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug. They go through their ups and downs in the group and by the time they’ve embarked on their journey they treat everyone like family and look out for one and other. The point of these novels have two different sides but all relate to the same thing, even though the lady in French Exit passed away because of hard times she still ended up creating her own path and living alone for over a good year or so, whereas The group in The Hobbit did stick together and realized that as you said “teamwork makes the dream work”. In The Grapes of Wrath connects to these topics similarly in the facts that Muley is sticking to only himself and adapting to his nature just like the lady in French Exit and also the Joads sticking together like the group did in The Hobbit. I do agree with what both sides are stating but for being able to live in such a rough time period living alone and fending for yourself is the better option. In this day and age we see people saying “we’re” a big happy family on company bill boards or “come join US”. Our society is so used to the fact of sticking together that soon if something like the great heat wave does come again or for us it would be great changes in climate change that we would have to learn to stick to ourselves or stay in small groups. If a group of thirty stick together they will learn that surviving in a boat if water levels rise will unfortunately go astray where as a group of five will most likely live to see another day. Just like the flood that happened recently when water levels raised so high that they broke records. Literally broke records in our area, some of these houses now have so much water damage that you are unable to live in them anymore. Furthermore, this is how staying all by yourself is the better way, even though there is no I in we, this is what might be an acception.
Deletehttps://www.cbc.ca/news/business/it-s-a-problem-for-society-climate-change-is-making-some-homes-uninsurable-1.5173697
By: Genevieve Jones
In “The Grapes of Wrath,” Jim Casy’s approach towards religion changes dramatically during the chaos of the Dustbowl. As an ex-preacher, he was close to God in the eyes of the Joads, however, the acceptance of is sins caused him to stray away from his initial beliefs. Casy explains his new theory to Tom upon meeting him for the second time, saying “Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of” (Steinbeck, 26). Through this revelation, it is easy to connect the migrants’ small successes with the idea of teamwork.
ReplyDeleteUpon entering Weedpatch, Tom is nearly immediately greeted by Timothy and Wilkie Wallace. After sharing their breakfast with him, they invite him to come along in order for him to find a job. After arriving at the farm, Mr. Thomas lends a helping hand by hiring Tom for twenty-five cents an hour. In comparison, Pa, Al, and John are incapable of finding a job, as they stuck with the people they were comfortable with instead of joining the other campers to find work. As their minds were only focused on themselves, they were unsuccessful in earning any money. Tom’s determination to help the others around him played an important role in his achievement. As the common theme of “poor helping the poor” develops, the Joads begin to recognize that by helping others, the luck will reflect on them as well. For example, when Al offers to help Floyd Knowles fix his car, he returns the favour by providing Tom and Al information about work available up north. Although the Joads do not immediately take up on this offer, their teamwork provides them with opportunities that are hard to find in their situation.
The idea of mutual benefit continues throughout the novel in many occasions. Casy demonstrates the concept of the Oversoul when explaining his experience in the jailhouse. When given sour beans, one of his fellow criminals began to yell and demand for better food. Although this did not work for the single man, the moment the other men joined in, they were given better food. There is power in numbers. Sairy Wilson also demonstrates this mutual benefit when she meets the Joads. As Granpa began to suffer from a stroke, she is quick to lend a hand. In return, Tom and Al offer to help repair the Wilsons’ car. They are also invited on the Joads’ journey to California out of respect for Sairy’s caring nature. By merging their groups together, both people/families were able to reap the rewards.
Lastly, the idea of the Oversoul is supported by Tom near the end of the novel. Following his time in the wilderness, Tom speaks to Ma about his revelation that mirrored a scripture Casy once explained to him. He reiterates, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lif’ up his fellow, but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up” (Steinbeck, 438). Tom’s realization of Casy’s initial plan becomes his motivation to support himself and the others around him. The idea of supporting others to benefit others parties plays an important part in the Joads journey, and Tom uses the opportunity to share his beliefs with others. This plot line can be compared to the formation of Dumbledore’s Army in Harry Potter, as Harry uses his skills and fame to teach his fellow classmates how to protect themselves against the dangers of the war against Voldemort.
Overall, Jim Casy’s concept of the Oversoul plays an important role in the Joads’ success, and continues to be relevant today. No matter how much the human race evolves, we will always rely on each other to improve the odds of achieving our goals.
Bibliography
Steinbeck, J. (1939). ”The Grapes of Wrath.” The Viking Press. James Lloyd.
Rowling, J. K. (2003). “Harry Potter And the Order of the Phoenix.” New York: Listening Library.
DeleteOk, for some reason it says it was posted by Ms. Dagg. I swear it's actually Madeleine. I don't know why it says Ms. Dagg. It's Madeleine.
DeleteI agree that the oversoul, which is portrayed as unions later, is similar to Harry Potter. But, do you think that it is more profound than just the forming of Dumbledore’s Army? It was a difficult task for Harry Potter to accept to be a part of a group, a team, much like the Joad’s in chapter 26 when they come to Hooper Ranch to work. “Tom answered, ‘Sure, but what is this?’ ‘That’s not your affair. Want to work?’ ‘Sure we do.’ ‘Name?’ ‘Joad.’” (Steinbeck, pg.385). This truly implies that at this point they care for themselves over anything. They don’t want to involve themselves in the situation because they are there for the family. Later, they need a different place to live, that they should have maybe been a part of the protest against unreasonable wages. Harry Potter needs the guidance of other characters like Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and even Neville Longbottom. These characters show that working together is the best option for the cause and support Harry in becoming the leader he is. This is seen for Tom and the family too. Jim Casy is like Harry’s friends. He is the support to understand the power in numbers.
DeleteFriends are people that grow this unity. This is an interesting character development that both J.K Rowling and John Steinbeck use to bring in the ideas of unity and human spirit with the friends. Friends are viewed as trusting, helpful, and good. That being said, it is almost necessary to have Tom hear the message of unity from a source that is viewed as trusting. This goes for Harry Potter as well. Friendship, humanity, unity, love, and family all grow these stories for their characters into profound thoughts.
This is seen in other novels as well. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey, deals with the same ideas. As Nurse Ratched attempts to destroys the hopes of McMurphy, he grows and grows uniting the patients. He is trusting and they patients see hope, even in their weariness. Other novels like The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, and The Lord of the Rings series by JRR Tolkien, all deal with these same ideas.
Literature thrives on friendship and united humanity. The ideas develop the love of humanity most writers have. This is not a new idea, but one that should be continuously explored.
I do think that the Oversoul is much more profound than the simple statement about Dumbledore’s Army, however, I view the series as a collective statement about the idea of teamwork. Sure, many characters are still concerned about themselves, like Draco Malfoy, but even he is able to recognize the strength in numbers when standing up for what is right. I don’t think anyone is able to describe the concept of the Oversoul with complete accuracy, however I do believe that everyone will experience teamwork and sacrifice in their lives.
DeleteAs someone who has always felt blood is not thicker than water, the Grapes of Wrath story on the Joad`s was one that made me question my views. The Joad`s family bond is impeccable as they go through so many ups and downs that many families would not have made it through.
ReplyDeleteMa`s will to keep the family together is out of genuine interest for the family and goes hand in hand with Jim Casy`s idea of the oversoul. The two believe that relying on each other is the only way to make it through tough times, as all of them together are stronger than them as individuals. The idea of blood being thicker than water is heavily influenced in the book by the family, but the entire novel focuses on communal living, and helping strangers which contradicts this idea. Some examples going against the idea of blood family being the only family is the communal living in the government camps, as well as the Wilson`s joining in on the Joad`s journey to California.
Steinbeck wrote this novel in a time period much different than the one we live in today. Ma had to grow and change into a strong woman with a voice, and this was not normal during the dust bowl. The idea of a woman “wearing the pants” of the family was unthought of whereas now the man is not automatically the leader of the family. The oversoul concept of strength in numbers has only grown in popularity over time as families are becoming more diverse.
To conclude, the characters developed greatly throughout their tough times during the novel and learn to rely on others as nobody is strong enough to take on a task of this magnitude alone. The Joad`s and their companions bond in a unique way that is not like the connection with blood family and learn how strong they can be when they stand together.
I definitely agree with you in saying that this book made me question the matter of whether or not blood is thicker than water. As someone who believed in water being thicker than blood, it helped me realize that my family is the one I can rely on, through thick and thin, and that, while my friends understand me in a way family will never understand, the same goes for family. Family understands me in a way that differs to others, always being there for me with the best of intentions.
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ReplyDeleteThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck takes its readers on a journey both literally and theoretically. Steinbeck uses his character Jim Casy, an ex-preacher, to introduce the idea of the Oversoul. Which is a theme that becomes prominent in the novel. In chapter three Casy says “Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.’ Now I sat there thinkin it, and all of a suddent- I knew it. I knew it so deep down that it was true, and I still know it.” This quote tells of a concept where there is one soul in which everyone is a part of and that there is no Holy Spirit, only the human spirit of which is made up of all mankind.
ReplyDeleteEvidence that Casy truly believes in the concept of “we” over “me” is seen when he goes on strike with a group of men after being told they would only be paid two and a half cents for each box of peaches picked. Casy and the men knew that going up against the locals, who carried guns, would be risky but they couldn’t afford to work for a pay that wouldn’t even let them provide themselves with decent food. As a result of Casy’s strong beliefs and courage, he ends up sacrificing his life but with the end of his life came the beginning of a fire inside Tom. After many more obstacles, the fire continues to grow inside Tom and he soon realizes that he must leave his family, not for his own benefit but so that his family would not be burdened by him. Leaving enabled him to join a rebellion and fight for the rights of the migrant workers, finishing what Casy had started.
To survive in such gruesome conditions, there must be sacrifice. As seen above, both Casy and Tom made sacrifices to help the people around them, but they weren’t the only characters in The Grapes of Wrath that had to make sacrifices. Almost every character in Steinbeck’s novel experiences a sacrifice at one point or another. Examples of sacrifices made by Steinbeck’s characters are seen when the farmer, near Weedpatch, gives Tom a job even though he can’t really afford to. Another example of sacrifice for the better of another is seen at the very end of the novel when Rose of Sharon sacrifices her dignity and risks embarrassment to feed a starving man with her breast milk. Even after going through the loss of her baby, Rose of Sharon pushed through and helped a dying man with the only thing the family had to offer him. A similar situation is seen in The Blind Side when Collins Tuohy risks embarrassment and being shamed by her friends to help her new roommate Michael Oher study for school. Collins even had the courage to stand up in front of her friends to go sit with him during lunch period. This shows that even small sacrifices, like the one made by Collins in The Blind Side, can greatly affect another and in Michael’s case, help him to pass his classes.
In conclusion, the idea of the Oversoul is based on what one is willing to give up for another and how a small sacrifice or good deed can change another’s life forever. After reading the novel I am curious to hear what other works you think contain the idea of the Oversoul and if there was a positive/hopeful outcome, like that of The Grapes of Wrath?
Bibliography
Steinbeck, J. (1939). The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press-JamesLloyd
In order to become a leader, you must sacrifice. Which you mentioned about for Tom, Casey and Rose of Sharon. Everyone is stronger when they are in a group but sometimes being a large group can become a burden and someone must leave to save the rest which is what Tom had to do.
DeleteTom and Casey forming new groups to fight for their rights and create a difference is a similarity to many historic events where people had to come together in order to change the economy and go against the government. For instance, in WW2, Germans who were against Hitler, started to created German Resistance to Nazism to fight for the rights they loss and bring an end to the inhumane actions .
Correction for quote:
DeleteChapter Four**
(Page 33)
Glad you brought this up! The idea of sacrifice really ties into the play we are studying in French class. Cyrano de Bergerac sacrifices his chance to be with the one he loves in order to allow his crush, Roxane, to be happy. As the play takes place during the siege of Arras, Cyrano finds himself continuing to write letters for Christian to Roxane, so she can hold on to the idea for him forever, as he is dying. Even in a fatal moment, instead of looking at his possible chance at love, Cyrano continues to put the needs of others before him to ensure their happiness.
DeleteHowever, you can also compare it to the concept of "The Greatest Showman," where all the 'misfits' band together to stand up for their own beliefs. You define the oversoul based on sacrifices, but do you think the Oversoul can extend past the idea of sacrifice and exist when others aren't in need? To clarify, to you think the Oversoul idea would have blossomed if no one had been affected by the Dustbowl?
The idea of the oversoul is an extremely prevalent and popular concept. It appears frequently in literature and films. For example, the movie, "Avengers: Endgame," consistently employs the theory of collaboration and sacrifice to achieve success and save the world. In the film, all of the superheroes must unite to defeat Thanos. No one is powerful enough to beat him individually, but with their superpowers combined, they stand a fighting chance. Additionally, Iron Man effectively demonstrates the theme of self-sacrifice for the greater good when he uses the Infinity Stones to conquer Thanos, despite knowing that using the stones will cost him his life. "Avengers: Endgame" demonstrates a clear example of the success of the concept of the oversoul, as it shows how the collaboration and sacrifice of individuals generate a powerful group that can save the world.
DeletePower in Numbers
ReplyDeleteJohn Steinbeck’s novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," explores the concept of power in numbers. When reading this book, I equate a single migrant family to an individual man fending for himself, and I associate a group of migrant families with a group of people supporting one another. When I employ this ideology, it is easy to see that Steinbeck portrays individuals, in this case, families, as being more successful when working together.
For instance, in the government camp where the Joads reside, the migrant families govern themselves, avoiding the abuse of police. Upon Tom’s first morning in the camp, he is offered breakfast by a migrant family as well as the chance at a job. Additionally, when Tom discusses the camp, he says, “I been thinkin’ how it was in that gov’ment camp, how our folks took care a theirselves, an’ if they was a fight they fixed it theirself … they was better order than them cops ever give. I been a-wonderin’ why we can’t do that all over … All work together for our own thing” (Steinbeck 571). Certainly, the migrant families benefit by banding together. This alliance leads to less violence and less hunger, and the people feel human again, demonstrating the safety collaboration brings.
Additionally, during the flooding in California, the migrant families have little shelter, little food, and no work. Barns fill with sick and dying migrant people, and fear spreads among the families. However, when they gather together, they overcome fear and anger prevails. The following quote displays this scenario, “The women watched the men, watched to see whether the break had come at last … And where a number of men gathered together, the fear went from their faces, and anger took its place. And the women sighed with relief … the break had not come” (Steinbeck 592). It is obvious that when together, the families draw strength from one another, and they are no longer alone in their struggles, reinforcing the concept that there is more power in “we” than “me.”
Moreover, in the boxcar camp, the migrant men of different families come together to build a bank of mud to keep the river from flooding the camp. The following excerpt demonstrates their accomplishment, “the stream rose slowly. It edged above the place where the first dirt had been thrown. Pa laughed in triumph. ‘She’d come over if we hadn’ a built up!’ he cried” (Steinbeck 600). Although an uprooted tree eventually destroys the embankment, it would never have been built without the teamwork of these men. This bank allows time for Rose of Sharon to give birth before the water floods the camp, supporting the idea that mankind is more successful if they help one another.
Interestingly, the idea of strength in numbers is still relevant in today’s literature and media. For instance, in "The Lord of the Rings," Frodo Baggins embarks on a journey to destroy the evil One Ring and save the world. However, he cannot do it alone, he needs the guidance and support of his friends, particularly Samwise Gamgee. The following video demonstrates Sam’s invaluable help and encouragement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKIgv8AhffA.
Lastly, the power of “we” is also relevant in current events. For example, in our rural community, our dairy farmers are concerned that the Canadian milk quota system will one day be traded off at world trade talks for a more powerful industry. Years ago, when farms were smaller, the voting power was greater, as there were more farming families. Today, with the amalgamation of farms and the exponential advancement in technology, there are less farms, families, and employees. Therefore, voting power has significantly diminished, and the government has less concerns about upsetting the farmers, as their influence has dramatically reduced.
I definitely agree that there is power in numbers, but do you ever think this can be a bad thing? There are several times throughout history where this "power in numbers" has worked against humanity.
DeleteIn summary, the concept of “we” being more powerful than “me” is a theme that is consistently developed throughout "The Grapes of Wrath," in today’s literature and media such as in "The Lord of the Rings," as well as in Canada’s farming community. Thus, I believe that we are better, stronger, and more successful in a supportive group rather than alone as an individual. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited
“LOTR The Return of the King – ‘I Can’t Carry It For You … But I Can Carry You.’” YouTube, uploaded by EgalmothOfGondolin01, 2 Aug. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKIgv8AhffA. Accessed 15 June 2019.
Steinbeck, John. "The Grapes of Wrath." Penguin Books, 1992.
Looking at your reference to “Lord of the Rings,” I noticed how easily one can tie Steinbeck’s idea of the Oversoul to almost any young adult fiction novel about a hero. In “The Hobbit,” though Bilbo’s journey certainly was not a one-man job, I also find it important to recognize that Bilbo was also willing to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He was not too keen on it at first, but after recognizing how much it meant to everyone else, he decided to go along. I think the idea of the Oversoul can be seen from any direction, as any motive for sacrificing yourself or putting someone else first will definitely cause a chain reaction in the long run. Tom’s kindness to Casy ended up being reciprocated when Casy sacrificed himself at Hooverville.
DeleteI do agree that we are much stronger when we work in a group, as long as everyone is passionate about what they are doing. If you use the example of the climate change protests, you can see the positive side of teamwork. However, when looking at something as simple as groupwork in a class, the work can be one-sided. I think Casy’s idea of the Oversoul works for the time period and in modern-day, but I can also see the side of teamwork failing because of differences.
Family is love. Family no matter blood or water is a united front, a group of people that stick together. The oversoul is the idea that love is this united front to keep people together. Love is shown throughout The Grapes of Wrath to prove strength in the people and hate when people only keep to themselves. The true message of this story is love conquers all and that the oversoul defines this.
ReplyDeleteCountless times throughout the novel love is seen as the glue that sticks the characters together. Jim Casy for example cares so much about people that he stands to take charge of the wage strike near Hooper Ranch. But Casy explains this much earlier in the novel. In the line, “‘They’s gonna come somepin outa all these folks goin’ wes’ – outa all their farms lef’ lonely. They’s gonna come a thing that’s gonna change the whole country,’”(Steinbeck, chpter 16) Casy understands that the people are a unity and the love for one another, the love for their people will bring people to care more together than just alone.
Love is seen in the Joad’s family as well as a driving force to keep people together. The Joad’s attempt to stick together as much as possible. They slowly lose people, Grampa and Granma to age, Connie to cowardliness, Noah to the water, Al to his wife, Casy to his calling, and Tom for his love of the family. Ma tries to keep people together as much as possible. She realizes that unity doesn’t mean sticking together but thinking and caring for one another even in long distances. Tom describes this idea of being away from the family shows his love for he’ll fight for them and will protect them in doing so. This shows the complexity of love and the oversoul. The oversoul, when love is used, keeps people connected.
The idea of love of groups of people can be seen today in our world as well. Children if they are not given a strong loving foundation, they are prone to the side-effects of neglect like PTSD and brain trauma. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-legacy-distorted-love/201708/the-long-term-impact-neglectful-parents Love is such a powerful force and Steinbeck uses it to his advantage to understand and appreciate human life. All human life is connected. Whether you call it the oversoul or love, being together and holding each other up to grow and become stronger people is at the heart of life.
Madeleine
Exactly! Family are truly all about love. Love is strength, the family needs this so that they can survive. With love you can really accomplish anything. They will do anything it takes to help protect and support the ones that mean the most to them. This is why the family finds success. They all preform certain tasks, therefor the family can survive and stay together.
DeleteIt is often encouraged in life to work with other people, like the saying “there is no I in team”. In The Grapes of Wrath because the family sticks together they are able to accomplish more and it helps them survive.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel the Joad family does their best to stay together. This is very important to their survival because everyone is able to help or contribute in some sort of way. Both Al and Tom play a vital role in getting the family to California because of their knowledge of the cars. Ma and Rose of Sharon help feed everyone by preparing the meals, and everyone helps picking fruit and cotton to help get money for the family. Even though not everyone was helpful all the time, everyone played a role in getting the family to California and finding work.
The Joads also cared for many people who weren’t family like Casy. They didn’t need to do this but they knew that they were stronger in numbers. Their selflessness showed through their whole journey. Like when they were in Hooverville Ma gave the rest of the stew to the starving children. “I can’t send ‘em away” (page 351) they truly cared about the other people and did all they could to help.
Humans have survived overtime by sticking together because humans need each other to survive. The indigenous people are a great example of this. Their community is their family and they all help provide food, shelter, medicine and many other things. Whenever there was meat it would be split amongst everyone in the tribe just like the Joads did. It was made sure that everyone had and even portion of food no matter what they did or how little they may have contributed to it. Doing this was a very selfless thing to do in such hard times.
To conclude, the Joads survived by taking advantage of everybody’s strengths. They also treated many other people like their family and what they did to survive was very similar to the indigenous people.
Bibliography
Steinbeck,j.(1939) The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press-JamesLloyd
I really like the connection you made with indigenous people. It never crossed my mind that this culture could be connected to the Joad family, but looking at it further, I can see how they are very similar. If and when children would come back from residential schools in the past, families of the affected took responsibility in caring for them. Not only immediate families, but on a larger scale, native communities are one of the best examples of people helping people who aren’t blood related. The teamwork shown through these indigenous nations can be looked at from multiple point of views, which you’ve mentioned. In order to survive, families must bond together where everyone helps everyone. I think you did a great job highlighting that.
DeleteWhile I definitely agree that teamwork makes the dream work and there is no I in team, I also think that some may have wrong intentions. For example, food aid in third world countries is something that is great, good on the people who are donating towards benefitting these people, but what about after it is all gone? They are back at square one, dependant on this foreign food aid, with their economy still in shambles. They do not grow or expand as a nation, but are contrastingly stuck at a road block and unable to make progress as a nation.
Deletei agree with this statement because it continues to prove in history that when difficult times occur those who stick together are stronger because they have a stronger support base. Teamwork is a constant strategy used in various elements, for instance sports. A sports team is stronger when the players can rely on one another making their chances at winning stronger.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the idea of the oversoul is the same idea we often apply to our definition of family. When we question whether blood is thicker than water, whatever our answer to this is, we all define family as being the same thing: when we love someone unconditionally and act selflessly towards them, whether they are truly blood related or not.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure that Steinbeck’s message for The Grapes of Wrath was that people need to work together and see things through to the very end. Characters who end up leaving or fending for themselves are looked down upon, pitied, or seen as selfish. We see this in chapter five, with the man who was operating the tractor. He has his own family that he needed to take care of and taking the job paid him three dollars a day. Despite this heartfelt reasoning, the man is still regarded as nothing more than an extension of the tractor who works for the bank. Rose of Sharon’s husband, Connie, is another character who ends up giving in to the man. While his case is a bit more extreme and involves leaving his pregnant wife, the sentiment remains the same, Connie went against what the group wanted and decided to fend for himself which makes him bad. The Grapes of Wrath really pushes the idea that if you aren’t with the group, then you are against them
The idea that an act must be done to benefit the group otherwise, the act isn’t moral or it’s selfish, is utilitarian. The man driving the tractor is seen as a pawn for the banks despite his devotion to his family, and while Connie is a coward, but he’s seen as more of a deadbeat for going back to Oklahoma to find work that is practically guaranteed. The word selfish is always demonized with little to no regard of individual motivations when selfishness is nothing more than concern for one’s own self. The man who drove the tractor and Connie don’t owe anyone anything (aside from Connie and Rose of Sharon but that’s something that doesn’t involve selfishness and more so cowardice.) Just because the man and Connie’s actions didn’t benefit the group, it doesn’t mean they are inherently bad.
Your point is very interesting to me due to the note you made that working for the man is not selfish. Before Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover was the president of the United States. being one of the most influential men, his job is to protect his people. Unfortunately this man was not doing much to help support the masses. He watched helplessly as many businesses closed, people starved, and Americans emerged into poverty. The "man" who is elected to look out for everyone else did not seem to make much progress to emerge his country out of poverty.
DeleteHoover signed the law of Smoot-Hawley Act, which raised taxes on imports and prompted foreign nations to turn their backs on American-made goods when the country desperately needed sales. He did not produce much hope for the country going under this awful depression. In my eyes, working for the man is not selfish, but working for a selfish man IS selfish. Compromising what you stand for, even just for 3 dollars a day and your identity is not worth it in my point of view.
I find your approach to this very interesting. You talk about Connie and how he was one of the people in the novel who gave in to the man. As well as how the man driving the tractor is a pawn. Personally, my perspective on these matters is different than yours but I appreciate how you came at it from a different angle.
DeleteHello Emilie, I think you might have misunderstood me so allow me to elaborate on my point a bit. I do believe that the tractor man and Connie were acting selfishly but what I was trying to say is that selfish does not always equal bad. It's a neutral term. A philosopher who believes in this same sentiment is Ayn Rand as one of her works is called "The Virtue of Selfishness" so allow me to quote her.
Delete"The meaning ascribed in popular usage to the word ‘selfishness’ is not merely wrong: it represents a devastating intellectual ‘package-deal,’ which is responsible, more than any other single factor, for the arrested moral development of mankind."
Times were tough back then and people had to do what they had to in order to survive and protect their families. Giving people who "gave in to the man" this harsh definition that we apply to the word selfish is completely unfair. Not everyone had the resolve to fight the man and many of these people had families they had to take care of and even then, looking out for just yourself isn't a bad thing as well, as long as it isn't hurting anyone. (I'm sure we can all agree Rose of Sharon was better off without Connie)
I agree with this response. Your definition of family is a perfect was to describe it. Families are all about love. Families are expected to stick together. They need each other in order to achieve success. The grapes of wrath really did push the idea of working together. Everybody that chose to do otherwise found themselves failing. Groups must divide work so that everybody has a job. This will make success way more likely to happen. Great job Madison:)
DeleteUpon reading John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the theme of the oversoul is a reoccurring topic. This transcendental philosophy is introduced through Jim Casy, an ex-preacher. Upon the dust bowl’s chaos, he suggests that people should work together to create a communal sense of living rather than a free-for-all.
ReplyDeleteIn an uprising against “the man” Jim Casy becomes a sort of leader upon the migrants' eyes. This sort of concept reminded me very much of when I read the novel series The Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen the main protagonist becomes the Mockingjay of the rebellion. Just like Casy and eventually Tom, people see a sense of hope in her even through the awful things people are going too. A similar setting to GOW, the rich are getting richer and the poor have to live in terrible conditions.
In a post-apocalyptic North America, it is almost comparable to the dust bowl. District 12 where Katniss is from, took a step back in time with a 1930’s look to it. People were living in terrible conditions and until this leader took charge of the situation people were suffering. The previous system was just like in the ’30s, there was the ultimate leader that did not change much for the citizens.
The oversoul concept comes in when people collectively work together to benefit their situations. Creating markets and trading products to make sure people have enough to get by. This is similar to the camps in Grapes of Wrath. People work to receive shelter and live in a communal area. This philosophy is the best way to live by in my opinion, and it should be reflected this way in families too.
In conclusion, the oversoul philosophy is one that makes sense in my eyes. Not only do people benefit from it, everyone does. It is not a concept that benefits one type of person, but rather all social classes. Just like in any family, everyone always has their different expertise. I believe that if everyone works together in an oversoul manner all members would be valued and there would be less conflict.
Sources :
DeleteSteinbeck,j.(1939) The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press-JamesLloyd
Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.
I never would have thought that the Hunger Games was similar to the 30s. Although I don't think they had the same level of poverty in the Hunger Games seeing as they owned houses. I like how you connected the overcoming of the greater powers in both of the works.
DeleteWhen reading the novel, in district twelve (where Katniss is from) Suzanne Collins uses similar imagery of the poverty as the Steinbeck did for the Grapes of Wrath. Even though we are in the future, there is only a few very rich areas (The capitol, district 1, 2).
DeleteThe Joads also owned a farm house (like the Everdeen's) but chose to leave it. Inevitably, they would have probably died of starvation from the circumstances so they had to leave, but district twelve was a mining area which is similar to a farming town. Additionally, Katniss's father died which made them have a lesser income as most families. I understand that since this is a post modern area it is expected to be more rich, but even today in the 21'st century there are still people who are living in poverty all over the world. Just because someone owns a house (more or less a shack), it does not qualify them to be qualified as more financially stable when they struggle for food just like the Joads.
“The Grapes of Wrath” follows several important and relevant topics which we still focus on today. We are introduced to Jim Casey, a messiah figure throughout the novel, who discusses his personal beliefs on the oversoul. This concept suggests that the combination of humanity’s spirit is greater and more powerful than God. When we meet him, he talks about how he believes in the power of numbers, and how we can do greater things if we work together.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel we see many sacrifices made by each character. These sacrifices are ones that must be made in order to survive the horrific circumstances they’ve been faced with. Not only do the characters need to make materialistic sacrifices, such as leaving their belongings behind as seen in the beginning of the novel, but also ones that sacrifice dignity. A perfect example of this is when Rose of Sharon gives birth to a stillborn baby and then uses her milk to save a starving man. When they come across the boy and the man in the barn Rose of Sharon asks for everyone to leave so that she can give her milk to him. Character development is observed, as we see Rose of Sharon come off as being above others, likening herself to royalty throughout the novel. This chapter shows her growth and selflessness even after the death of her baby. This all relates back to the oversoul and the power in numbers, because without her sacrifice, the man most likely would have died of starvation. The significance is seen that in times of need, people will either flee out of cowardliness like Connie did, or come together for the greater good.
Proof that Casey believes what he claims is seen in chapter twenty. In this chapter Casey volunteers to be held accountable for what happened to the sheriff after a fight broke out and the situation blew out of control. Casey knew that Tom had already broken his parole and makes the decision to take the fall for the crime. While he has been a selfless character throughout the novel, this stood out to me. Casey has often been associated with Jesus through his actions and I found this chapter highlighted that and further established his character. Through him doing this, he was able to repay the Joad family for their hospitality and show the reader that it’s the power of love and community that holds people together in the hardest times.
Continued...
DeleteThere was a quote Ma said that I found fit into the concept of the oversoul and community.
“We’re Joads. We don’t look up to nobody. Grampa’s grampa, he fit in the Revolution. We was farm people till the debt. And then—them people. They done somepin to us. Ever’ time they come seemed like they was a-whippin’ me—all of us. An’ in Needles, that police. He done somepin to me, made me feel mean. Made me feel ashamed. An’ now I ain’t ashamed. These folks is our folks—is our folks. An’ that manager, he come an’ set an’ drank coffee, an’ he says, ‘Mrs. Joad’ this, an’ ‘Mrs. Joad’ that—an’ ‘How you getting’ on, Mrs. Joad?’” She stopped and sighed. “Why, I feel like people again.”
In chapter twenty-two Ma discusses the effects of what it has been like to be on the road. She claims that it has changed her. The hostility they have suffered from policemen and landowners have made her mean, petty, and hardened. In Weedpatch, for the first time since leaving home, she is treated like a human being. The camp manager’s kindness revives her sense of connection in the world; “These is our folks,” she says. Her speech underlines the importance of fellowship among the migrants, suggesting that, given their current difficulties, one cannot afford to bear one’s burdens alone. This further reflects the idea that there is power in numbers and that people must come together in love and in unity to survive.
To conclude, Jim Casey’s concept of the oversoul was one that helped me dig deeper into this novel and to further consider how it plays a role in present day issues. I found that Casey’s concept made a lot of sense in this novel in particular and that Steinbeck incorporated it so that the reader could challenge their own opinions and see it from a different perspective.
This post was written by Grace Goedhard
DeleteCorrection:
DeleteI forgot to add my citation.
Steinbeck, John. "The Grapes of Wrath." Penguin Books, 1992.
Sacrifice is an excellent way to describe The Grapes of Wrath. Being that they had to do things that most people today would never imagine that they would have to do.
DeleteThe quote that you chose it very fitting and excellently explains what horrible things they had to go through. I also think that it perfectly outlines who the Joads are, saying that they "don't look up to nobody". This is showing how tough they really are.
I very much agree that there is power in numbers and I believe that is what helped them survive.
from Gen:
DeleteI do agree with the power by numbers one hundred percent although to myself I think staying in smaller numbers to single digits is preferable. Throughout the story is shows how power by numbers creates the group become stronger and more “powerful” but within the story some do go their separate ways. Within the Grapes of Wrath when Rose of Sharon lost her baby it was because of not staying in a place where it would have been safe for herself including the baby. This was because they were staying in big numbers and Rose didn’t want to get left behind and also because the baby died of male nutrition and starvation from her pushing herself and not listening to the signs but to her mother. I do agree with your idea but I myself feel that the way to survive is alone, survival of the fittest like Muley.
By: Genevieve Jones
At this point, I have marked blog #1. If you post after this, please send me an email to go back and look at it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, please confirm which "unknown" posts belong to you (there are 3 here)
ReplyDeleteWe are stronger together. Throughout the course of history, humans have come to understand that everything is better when we work together. Whether that’s the cavemen who used teamwork to help them survive or students using their group members to help finish assignments. Teamwork can accomplish just about anything. In this course we have seen the difference between families who have work together. We have also seen families that turned on each other and crumpled. It lets the students get a good understanding on how beneficial team work is.
ReplyDeleteIn the play King Lear by William Shakespeare, we are introduced to families who don’t work together. As soon as Lear has no more power, he is basically considered non-existent too Goneril and Regan. This tears the family apart. They are instantly unable to work together. Lear takes this the hardest, he loses his mind and is never able to recover from his families break up. All hits rock bottom as the after math of the family being apart is too much for Cordelia and her father Lear to handle. They both dies, and the play becomes a tragedy.
When the wicked dustbowl hits the Joad’s family farm their lives change forever. Instead of splitting up and being every man for themselves, they all wok together. The Joad’s all stick together and find a better life in California. They eventually find work and the family tries its best to support everyone they can. Although it doesn’t end up like they wanted it too it was still way better then splitting up and working individually.
Whether its school, sports, or even every day life, typically everything is better when you work as a team. Nobody is perfect; therefore, you need others to fill the gaps of your none perfection in order to get the job done. Some jobs are way to big then others, and some people are way more stubborn then others. Some people much rather work alone and fail then work together and succeed. At some point in time, you must work together in order to accomplish your goals.
Steinbeck, J. (1939). The Grapes of Wrath. The Viking Press. James Lloyd.
Shelby: David I agree with your sentiment and view on how sometimes people can be more successful when working as a team, and how someones strength can cover another's weakness. However, sometimes a team is only as strong as it's weakest link, and they cannot succeed as much as the strongest person could on their own. Do you think if the Joad family had been instead separated, would they have gotten as far as the family did together? How far do you think they could have gotten on their own separate ways?
DeleteFor Gen. J:
ReplyDeleteWithin the book The Grapes of Wrath survival of the fittest is a topic that follows throughout the book, as many people in this time period struggle to survive the dust bowl. In this day and age only parts of the United States are facing great heat waves like they did and even greater ones too.
Within the story the Joad family is forced to move on and find jobs else were because of such great weather and dehydration in the air and soil creating their current job, farming, non-adaptable. As this does enhance the story line and creates a big conflict, this does have a big impact on the Joads. Climate change is a huge topic in this time period, it makes the plot move along and it also creates the story. In our day and age climate change is getting worse and worse. Scientist are predicting that in 2050 parts of the US will no longer be habitable to humans or animals. The temperatures will sky rocket to over 50 degrees and in Canada we will be going below freezing temperatures and have yearlong winters. This shows that climate change in the book and in our day and age is quite similar to the face that its pushing people out of the uninhabitable area and into cities of work and to the “golden states/provinces”.
How do you get organizations thinking; “How can we make more money?” A lot of ads on social media show “If you donate, we will clean the ocean, plant trees and what not.” When in reality you don’t need to pay when you can do it for free! Volunteering is a big topic in our day and age, people who own big organizations say If you donate 5 dollars your giving our company the time and effort to clean the ocean when in reality it would take them 5 cents. Steering back into topic, business people will always look at the best for people and company but will never look at the health of the environment.
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DeleteThis relates to The Grapes of Wrath by environment change and how companies could help but only look out for themselves. In this time period survival of the fittest means camping with limited supplies and surviving on what’s around you, back then it was trying to live or accepting your fate that you will no longer be able to continue your journey. As this does enhance the plot it also shows us how everything isn’t like the movies, how if you didn’t work hard then you unfortunately will pass on. In Steinbeck’s novels he relates most of them to the tough times in the dust bowl. He relates them all to the same story line, that story line is survival of the fittest. Steinbeck shows us a reality where not everything’s like picking flowers in a garden. Although in this book there are no flowers to pick. As people move on some stay back and face the hard truth and blind themselves with money and men in business suits all looking the same. Survival of the fittest is very similar in a lot of cases, as do business men and farmers, they both gravitate towards the ability to have what they want, a.k.a. money.
Steinbeck relates a lot of his works to the conditions around the characters, such as weather, family situations, and mental situations. For example, in the story Tom Joad was faced with a physical and mental situation, the physical was the weather and the dust bowl, whereas the mental was where one of his best friends Jim Casey died from police brutality. Within our time period lots of people face the hardships of climate change and mental/physical state and relate it to their day to day lives. As Tom did suffer and wish he did something he ended up moving on and having to deal with the fact that no matter what happens you must move on or you will be lost and forgotten just like Muley.
This leads off to the conclusion that within the story multiple people are affected by what has passed and what has to come. Climate change created a big impact on society and business for both the better and the worse, it created both status and ruin within the country it is and was held in. This essay steers towards Steinbeck’s two big “theme’s”, location and survival of the fittest. This is the conclusion to my essay.
By: Genevieve Jones
In the book Steinbeck highlights friendships which is referencing how friends might of interacted in the 1930's. We have friends today just like back then but how we become friends with someone and stay friends has in some ways changed. Communication is a key reference to how friends have changed from the book's perspective to now.
ReplyDeleteTom and Jim became friends while they were in prison, they both had a common interest of freedom for the people. Fighting for a form of equality for all. They communicated by face to face interaction or sharing a message from one person to deliver it to another. They stayed friends as they lived in the same area, whether it was in or out of prison. Their friendship grew over time.
Ma and Pa had a lovers friendship (relationship). They met in Oklahoma and became an married couple. In their relationship they had to compromise and find a new common ground in their friendship. In the beginning of the novel Pa was the leader but near the end of the novel Ma was the one taking care of the family, as Pa struggled with inner emotions. Ma had to keep the family strong. This shows us the relationship can change and can evolve into something new.
Currently our generation of friendships are connection 90% through technology. We talk with pictures and have less words to say. I could sent my friend 10 emoji pictures and they could know my mood, feelings, interests and actions. In Steinbeck's book I can only wonder how many emojis would of travelled between Tom & Jim and Ma & Pa, things might of just turned out differently in the end.
I agree with your message on how communication is vital and how different it is today than it was back then. However, I don't think the use of technology and emoji's would have been an accurate display of the deep emotions of guilt, loss, and hope that the characters in the Grapes of Wrath went through. Technology has only made communication harder in my opinion, through text there is no emotion that is displayed, and its very easy to misread someones tone, which ends up with a lot of miscommunication-which would have only made the Joad family's journey harder, and more complicated.
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DeleteJim Casy was a preacher, and then had the mindset that he could not connect to his other faith anymore, he felt like he wasn’t a true man of god. His initials, JC, I think were done purposely to symbolize himself as Jesus, and a leader/saviour in their group. Jim Casy became a strong believer that working as a team benefitted the majority more than when individuals worked as “every man for himself”.
ReplyDeleteJim Casy reminded me a lot of the story of Tris in Divergent. Both at the beginning seem like unlikely leaders, Jim feeling like a burden on the Joad family initially, and Tris being a shy girl told her whole life to not stand out-until she becomes a leader of a revolution against the people of power in her book. Jim also wants to “stick it to the man”, and while he is uncomfortable making prayers as he feels they are illegitimate, whenever he is asked to perform a prayer by the Joad family, he tries his best to make them feel better and ease them by performing one.
Jim supported the notion that by oneself, we tend to make more mistakes and not be as strong as people are when they’re a united force together. Him and Ma had similar values, wanting to keep the tribe together. This however contrasted to Tom, who eventually went on his own away from his family, but he let his mom know that he would still be there spiritually to support them.
Steinbeck suggested that family didn’t have to be blood, and was demonstrated along the journey when many joined the Joad bunch, such as the Wilsons, and Casy, who was not blood related to the Joad’s, but became a family member along the way. Society’s views have changed since the great depression/dustbowl era. It’s now illegal to pay below the minimum wage, and the economy is thriving much more than its poor state back then. People nowadays as a majority hold less importance on religion as much as it was back then, which, if the Joad family’s scenario happened today, might have been worse for their spirits. While I myself am not religious, I do believe placing faith and belief in something/someone does bring a sense of hope in times of need-and hope is a very vital thing, and without it, I don’t think the Joad’s would have been as motivated to keep going on their journey as they had been.
Sources: Roth, Veronica. Divergent. HarperCollins Childrens Books, 2014.
DeleteSteinbeck, John Ernst. The Grapes of Wrath. Heinemann International, 1978.