Steinbeck’s Biblical Allusion in the Grapes of Wrath
Steinbeck’s Biblical Allusion in The Grapes of Wrath
Many novels written contain parallels to the Bible. This couldn’t be truer in the case
John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck alludes to Biblical characters and
events with the use of Sin Watchers, Jim Casy, and also the Joad’s journey to
California. There are other events in the book that parallel the Bible, although the
portrayal of the Sin Watcher and Jim Casy are the most obvious.
Throughout The Grapes of Wrath, religious symbols crop up, further explaining the
significance of the section. One use of symbolism is that when on the road to California,
Tom encounters a snake. Already established in the novel is the fact that to the Goads,
California represents a place of great wealth, freedom, and prosperity. It is a Garden of
Eden, so to speak. The Garden of Eden had a serpent who brought the Wrath of God upon
Adam and Eve. The serpent supplied them with the forbidden fruit. California is
forbidden to outsiders and migrants. No Okies allowed. The snake represents the Eden
Serpent and its betrayal to Adam and Eve. California will betray the Goads.
The Sin Watchers represent the religious zeal. They force their ideals on 2
others, and they point out the sinful ways of their fellow camp-mates. Steinbeck presents
them as evil people who disrupt the otherwise peaceful life at the
government camp. The most viewed Sin Watcher was the woman who berated Rose Of
Sharon for her “sinful” ways. This horrid woman told Rose Of Sharon that because of the
hug-dancing and other fun activities, the baby would be stillborn. Sadly, the baby was
born dead, but not necessarily due to Rose Of Sharon’s activities. This woman gave
Rose Of Sharon the idea that it was her fault that the baby did not survive.
Many novels written contain parallels to the Bible. This couldn’t be truer in the case
John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck alludes to Biblical characters and
events with the use of Sin Watchers, Jim Casy, and also the Joad’s journey to
California. There are other events in the book that parallel the Bible, although the
portrayal of the Sin Watcher and Jim Casy are the most obvious.
Throughout The Grapes of Wrath, religious symbols crop up, further explaining the
significance of the section. One use of symbolism is that when on the road to California,
Tom encounters a snake. Already established in the novel is the fact that to the Goads,
California represents a place of great wealth, freedom, and prosperity. It is a Garden of
Eden, so to speak. The Garden of Eden had a serpent who brought the Wrath of God upon
Adam and Eve. The serpent supplied them with the forbidden fruit. California is
forbidden to outsiders and migrants. No Okies allowed. The snake represents the Eden
Serpent and its betrayal to Adam and Eve. California will betray the Goads.
The Sin Watchers represent the religious zeal. They force their ideals on 2
others, and they point out the sinful ways of their fellow camp-mates. Steinbeck presents
them as evil people who disrupt the otherwise peaceful life at the
government camp. The most viewed Sin Watcher was the woman who berated Rose Of
Sharon for her “sinful” ways. This horrid woman told Rose Of Sharon that because of the
hug-dancing and other fun activities, the baby would be stillborn. Sadly, the baby was
born dead, but not necessarily due to Rose Of Sharon’s activities. This woman gave
Rose Of Sharon the idea that it was her fault that the baby did not survive.