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

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

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 ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

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 ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library. Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports, and research papers in 2 minutes or less.

CITE THIS PAGE: