Iblical Allusions And Imagery In Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

John Steinbeck always makes it a point to know about his subjects first

hand. His stories always have some factual basis behind them. Otherwise, he

does not believe that they will be of any value beyond artistic impression.

Therefore, most of his novels take place in California, the site of his birth

and young life. In preparation for writing his novels, Steinbeck would often

travel with people about whom he was going to write. The Grapes of Wrath was no

exception to his other works. To prepare for it, he joined migrants in Oklahoma

and rode with them to California. When he got to California, he lived with them,

joining them in their quest for work. By publishing these experiences and

trials of the migrants he achieved an effect that won him the Nobel Prize for

literature in 1962. The writing of The Grapes of Wrath coincided with the Great

Depression. This time of hardship and struggle for the rest of America gave

Steinbeck inspiration for his work. Other peoples' stories of everyday life

became issues for Steinbeck. His writings spoke out against those who kept the

oppressed in poverty and therefore was branded as a Communist because of his

"voice." Although, it did become a bestseller and receive countless awards, his

book was banned in many schools and libraries. However, critics never attacked

The Grapes of Wrath on the artistic level and they still consider it a

beautifully mastered work of art. More than any other American novel, it

successfully embodies a contemporary social problem of national scope in an

artistically viable expression.1 In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck utilizes

Biblical imagery and allusions to illustrate the struggle of the Joad family as

a direct parallel with that of the Hebrew people.

Steinbeck bolsters the strength of structure and character development

in the book through Biblical allusions and imagery. Peter Lisca has noted that

the novel reflects the three-part division of the Old Testament exodus account

which includes captivity, journey, and the promised land.2 The Joads' story is

a direct parallel with that of the Hebrews. Just as the Hebrews were captives

of the Pharaoh, the Joads' are captives of their farm. Both make long and

arduous journeys until they reach their promised land. Israel is the final

destination for the Hebrews and California plays the same role for the Joads.

Hunter mentions several of the parallels in the novel. When the Joads embark on

their journey, there are twelve members which corresponds to the twelve tribes

of Israel who are leaving the old order behind. They mount the truck in ark

fashion, two by two, as Noah Joad observes from the ground. This chapter ten

scene is an allusion to the story of Noah's Ark: 3

". . . the rest swarmed up on top of the load, Connie and Rose of Sharon, Pa and

Uncle John, Ruthie and Winfield, Tom and the preacher. Noah stood on the ground

looking up at the great load of them sitting on top of the truck. 4"

Grampa's character is an allusion to the story of Lot's wife. He is unable to

come to grips with the prospect of a new life, and his recollection of the past

results in his death. Lot's wife died in the same manner. She turned into a

pillar of salt when she looked back into her past. The parallel is emphasized

by the scripture verse, a direct quotation from Lot, which Tom uses to bury him

with.5 Uncle John's character resembles that of the Biblical character Ananias

because he withholds money from the common fund just as Ananias did. Both

characters are similar in their selfish desires and they each undergo a moment

of grace when they admit to their sins thus becoming closer to God.

Lewis suggests that Tom Joad is an illuminating example of what

Steinbeck considers to be the picaresque saint.7 Tom also serves as a Moses-

type leader of the people as they journey toward the promised land. Like Moses,

he has killed a man and had been away for a time before rejoining his people and

becoming their leader. Like Moses he has a younger brother(Aaron-Al) who serves

as a medium for the leader. Shortly before reaching the destination, he hears

and rejects the evil reports of those who have visited the land(Hebrew "spies"-

Oklahomans going back).8 This parallel ends before the completion of the story

just as most others in the novel do. Many parallels are not worked out

completely and as Hunter notes, the lack of detailed parallel seems to be

deliberate, for Steinbeck is reflecting a broader background of which the exodus

story is only a part.9 Several Biblical allusions come from New Testament

stories. Most prevalent among these allusions is the role of Jim Casy as a

Christ