Biblical ParallelsBiblical ParallelsGrapes of WrathGrapes of Wrath

General ParallelsGeneral Parallels

• ““On one level it is the story of the family’s struggle for On one level it is the story of the family’s struggle for survival in the Promised Land. . . . (Abraham, Isaac, and survival in the Promised Land. . . . (Abraham, Isaac, and Sarah)Sarah)

• On another level it is the story of a people’s struggle, the On another level it is the story of a people’s struggle, the

migrants’. (Israelites--Exodus from slavery in Egypt)migrants’. (Israelites--Exodus from slavery in Egypt)

• On a third level it is the story of a nation, America. (Biblical On a third level it is the story of a nation, America. (Biblical Nation of Israel) Nation of Israel)

• On still another level, through . . . the allusions to Christ and On still another level, through . . . the allusions to Christ and those to the Israelites and Exodus, it becomes the story of those to the Israelites and Exodus, it becomes the story of mankind’s quest for profound comprehension of his mankind’s quest for profound comprehension of his commitment to his fellow man and to the earth he inhabits.” commitment to his fellow man and to the earth he inhabits.”

• (Louis Owens, qtd. in xiii)(Louis Owens, qtd. in xiii)

The Joads and the Book of The Joads and the Book of JobJob• The Biblical story makes an example of people The Biblical story makes an example of people

whose faith is tested through struggle. whose faith is tested through struggle. • Satan visits God and God asks him, 'Have you Satan visits God and God asks him, 'Have you

seen my servant Job? He is the finest man in all seen my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth - a man of complete integrity. He fears the earth - a man of complete integrity. He fears God and has nothing to do with evil.' (Job 1:8). God and has nothing to do with evil.' (Job 1:8).

• God permits Satan to test Job in any way, without God permits Satan to test Job in any way, without harming him physically. After losing all his harming him physically. After losing all his material processions and family, Job remains material processions and family, Job remains strong in his faith, although he struggles and strong in his faith, although he struggles and wrestles with such dramatic changes in his life. wrestles with such dramatic changes in his life.

• We observe a similar situation with the Joad We observe a similar situation with the Joad family, who experience drastic changes and great family, who experience drastic changes and great suffering, and who, like Job, survive due to their suffering, and who, like Job, survive due to their inner strength or faith.inner strength or faith.

Noah and the FloodNoah and the Flood

• When the Joad family crams their car with When the Joad family crams their car with their processions, it can be likened to Noah their processions, it can be likened to Noah and his family in Genesis, who spend time and his family in Genesis, who spend time loading the ark with animals, as God has loading the ark with animals, as God has ordered. The Joads must also gather all the ordered. The Joads must also gather all the important things they need in order to important things they need in order to ensure survival. ensure survival.

• As we continue reading the novel, consider As we continue reading the novel, consider Noah Joad’s connection to the river and the Noah Joad’s connection to the river and the water, as well as his relationship to the Joad water, as well as his relationship to the Joad family as a whole.family as a whole.

The Promised LandThe Promised Land

• The Book of Numbers in The Hebrew Bible The Book of Numbers in The Hebrew Bible tells of the arduous journey of the Israelites, tells of the arduous journey of the Israelites, who had suffered under slavery in Egypt who had suffered under slavery in Egypt and left to seek the Promised Land. and left to seek the Promised Land.

• ““When they came to what is now known as When they came to what is now known as the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a cluster the valley of Eshcol, they cut down a cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them! They to carry it on a pole between them! They also took samples of the pomegranates and also took samples of the pomegranates and figs.” (Numbers 13:23)figs.” (Numbers 13:23)

Jim Casy as Christ-like Jim Casy as Christ-like FigureFigure

• The most obvious indicators are the shared The most obvious indicators are the shared initials between the two of them and also the initials between the two of them and also the religious agenda they both explore. religious agenda they both explore.

• Casy is the voice of the modern faith, constantly Casy is the voice of the modern faith, constantly thinking and re-evaluating his ideas about how thinking and re-evaluating his ideas about how people live their lives. However, despite his initial people live their lives. However, despite his initial questioning and self-doubt, he also becomes a questioning and self-doubt, he also becomes a powerful champion of the poor. powerful champion of the poor.

• Casy is likened to Jesus Christ as an advocate for Casy is likened to Jesus Christ as an advocate for change, and in his generosity and love for the change, and in his generosity and love for the common people common people

Rose of SharonRose of Sharon

• Her name is likely an allusion to this line from the Her name is likely an allusion to this line from the The Hebrew Bible: "I am the rose of Sharon, and the The Hebrew Bible: "I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys" (Song of Solomon 2:1). The Song lily of the valleys" (Song of Solomon 2:1). The Song of Solomon is a collection of love poems that has of Solomon is a collection of love poems that has been interpreted by many Jewish and Christian been interpreted by many Jewish and Christian scholars as allegorical. scholars as allegorical.

• The poems are not about sexual or romantic love The poems are not about sexual or romantic love between humans, but about God’s love for between humans, but about God’s love for humanity. humanity.

• The character Rose of Sharon seems to be a The character Rose of Sharon seems to be a sexually active young woman, but she is also sexually active young woman, but she is also described as having been transformed by her described as having been transformed by her pregnancy into someone who is almost saintly in pregnancy into someone who is almost saintly in demeanor and appearance. demeanor and appearance.

OthersOthers

• Uncle John puts Rose of Sharon’s stillborn baby in Uncle John puts Rose of Sharon’s stillborn baby in an old apple crate and floats it downstream. an old apple crate and floats it downstream. Moses, a Jewish leader was saved in a basket Moses, a Jewish leader was saved in a basket placed in the bullrushes of Egypt. placed in the bullrushes of Egypt.

• The family starts out as a family of 12-including The family starts out as a family of 12-including Connie; Connie represents the betrayer, Judas. Connie; Connie represents the betrayer, Judas.

• The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground...” (Genesis 2:7a).  ground...” (Genesis 2:7a). 

• No doubt the most obvious subject in the novel is No doubt the most obvious subject in the novel is dust. In fact, the dust that comes from the land dust. In fact, the dust that comes from the land defines the people who tend it, care for it, cry for it, defines the people who tend it, care for it, cry for it, and love it. Steinbeck uses this particular allusion to and love it. Steinbeck uses this particular allusion to show the deep connections between the people and show the deep connections between the people and the land. the land.