“the grapes of wrath” discussion notes 12-18. american transcendentalism a further look ralph...

““The Grapes of Wrath”The Grapes of Wrath”

Discussion notes 12-18Discussion notes 12-18

American TranscendentalismAmerican Transcendentalism A further lookA further look Ralph Waldo Emerson proclaimed a form of Ralph Waldo Emerson proclaimed a form of

transcendentalism whose genesis was in his transcendentalism whose genesis was in his abiding belief that each person could be in touch abiding belief that each person could be in touch with the god within, as well as with the divine with the god within, as well as with the divine currents of the universe.currents of the universe.

Emerson looked for primary truth in the Emerson looked for primary truth in the fundamental nature of the human mind. We have fundamental nature of the human mind. We have more in the mind than enters it through the more in the mind than enters it through the senses.senses.

In his essay “Self Reliance” he asserts one of In his essay “Self Reliance” he asserts one of transcendentalism’s fundamental tenets: the transcendentalism’s fundamental tenets: the dignity, the ultimate sanctity, of each human dignity, the ultimate sanctity, of each human being.being.

American TranscendentalismAmerican Transcendentalism

It’s murky, though.It’s murky, though. Transcendentalism’s commitment to Transcendentalism’s commitment to

the individual is a commitment to the the individual is a commitment to the soul or spirit that each person soul or spirit that each person possesses in common with all other possesses in common with all other human beings.human beings.

““There is one mind common to all There is one mind common to all individual men.”individual men.”

American TranscendentalismAmerican Transcendentalism That means there is a social imperative, too: That means there is a social imperative, too:

autonomous individuals cannot exist apart from autonomous individuals cannot exist apart from others.others.

As we noted, there is a fundamental unity, a basic As we noted, there is a fundamental unity, a basic similarity, in all human experience, which is more similarity, in all human experience, which is more important than the many obvious differences. important than the many obvious differences.

This gives every human a sense of responsibility This gives every human a sense of responsibility of self-esteem; everyone is part of something of self-esteem; everyone is part of something much bigger than themselves.much bigger than themselves.

He called this being part of the “Oversoul.”He called this being part of the “Oversoul.” Who does that sound like in Who does that sound like in The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath??

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism CasyCasy ““Why do we got to hang it Why do we got to hang it

on God or Jesus? Maybe, I on God or Jesus? Maybe, I figgered, maybe it’s all figgered, maybe it’s all men an’ all women we men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the love; maybe that’s the Holy Sperit – the human Holy Sperit – the human sperit – the whole sperit – the whole shebang. Maybe all men shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.’ever’body’s a part of.’

Discussion notes: Chapters 12-14Discussion notes: Chapters 12-14

The Joads, perhaps The Joads, perhaps subconsciously, have begun subconsciously, have begun to follow Casy’s spiritual to follow Casy’s spiritual vision. Their merger with the vision. Their merger with the Wilsons shows this:Wilsons shows this:– When the Wilsons open When the Wilsons open

their tent to the Joads, their tent to the Joads, they are saying, they are saying, “Welcome, brothers and “Welcome, brothers and sisters.”sisters.”

– Mrs. Wilson answers Ma’s Mrs. Wilson answers Ma’s thanks for help by saying: thanks for help by saying: “People [have the need] to “People [have the need] to help. Ma later replies: help. Ma later replies: “You can’t let help go “You can’t let help go unwanted.”unwanted.”

Discussion notes: chapters 12-14Discussion notes: chapters 12-14

Theme: Anger and confusion:Theme: Anger and confusion:

Anger, in many guises, dominates the book, and Anger, in many guises, dominates the book, and Steinbeck warns of this in Chapter 14:Steinbeck warns of this in Chapter 14:– Californians’ fear of the migrants turns to anger: “Keep Californians’ fear of the migrants turns to anger: “Keep

two men apart; make them hate, fear, suspect each two men apart; make them hate, fear, suspect each other.”other.”

– If you don’t, then “I lost my land” is changed: a cell is If you don’t, then “I lost my land” is changed: a cell is split, and from its splitting grows the thing you hate: split, and from its splitting grows the thing you hate: ““WeWe lost our land.” lost our land.”

– The danger is here, for two men are not as lonely and The danger is here, for two men are not as lonely and perplexed as one. And from this first “we,” there grows a perplexed as one. And from this first “we,” there grows a still more dangerous thing:still more dangerous thing:

– ““I have a little food” + “I have none” = “We have a little I have a little food” + “I have none” = “We have a little food.”food.”


– This spontaneous This spontaneous sharing is seen when sharing is seen when the Wilsons offer their the Wilsons offer their tent for Grandpa to die tent for Grandpa to die in; Mrs. Wilson gives up in; Mrs. Wilson gives up a quilt to bury him in; a quilt to bury him in; she tears a page from she tears a page from her Bible for Tom to her Bible for Tom to write a eulogy on.write a eulogy on.

– Ma then pledges to care Ma then pledges to care for Mrs. Wilson, and Pa for Mrs. Wilson, and Pa later says, “We almost later says, “We almost got a [family] bond.”got a [family] bond.”

– ““I” becomes “We.”I” becomes “We.”


By chapter 17, the migrant By chapter 17, the migrant families develop certain families develop certain expectations as a society:expectations as a society:– Rules, rights, and customs Rules, rights, and customs

are developed. are developed. – ““They shared their lives, They shared their lives,

their food, and the things their food, and the things they hoped for in the new they hoped for in the new country…twenty families country…twenty families became one family, the became one family, the children were the children children were the children of all.”of all.”

Again, “I” shifts to “We”Again, “I” shifts to “We” No one tells each other No one tells each other

what they have to do. They what they have to do. They do it because their survival do it because their survival depends on it.depends on it.


Allusion: reference to a Allusion: reference to a person, event, place, or person, event, place, or phrase outside of a story phrase outside of a story that the writer assumes that the writer assumes the reader will recognize. the reader will recognize.

An allusive reference can An allusive reference can be real or fictional.be real or fictional.

A literary allusion refers to A literary allusion refers to another written work, art another written work, art piece, book, etc.piece, book, etc.

By chapter 18, when the By chapter 18, when the Joads cross the desert into Joads cross the desert into California, we see Biblical California, we see Biblical allusions galore.allusions galore.


Steinbeck enlarges the significance of his Okies’ Steinbeck enlarges the significance of his Okies’ experiences by associating them with those of the experiences by associating them with those of the Israelites (the chosen people) in the Old Testament, Israelites (the chosen people) in the Old Testament, and, thus, suggesting their human and historical and, thus, suggesting their human and historical significance.significance.

Although not formally divided as such, the novel falls Although not formally divided as such, the novel falls into three parts.into three parts.

The drought and dispossession in Oklahoma (chapters The drought and dispossession in Oklahoma (chapters 1-11): corresponds to the oppression and bondage of 1-11): corresponds to the oppression and bondage of the Israelites in Egypt.the Israelites in Egypt.

The journey on Route 66 (chapters 12-18): The journey on Route 66 (chapters 12-18): corresponds to their Exodus and wandering into the corresponds to their Exodus and wandering into the wilderness.wilderness.

The arrival in California (chapters 19-30): corresponds The arrival in California (chapters 19-30): corresponds to their entrance into the Land of Canaan.to their entrance into the Land of Canaan.


Other parallels:Other parallels:– The plagues in Egypt: the drought in The plagues in Egypt: the drought in

Oklahoma.Oklahoma.– Egyptian oppressors: the bank officials.Egyptian oppressors: the bank officials.– Hostile Canaanites: hostile Californians Hostile Canaanites: hostile Californians

(“goddamned Okies”).(“goddamned Okies”).– The “Promised Land” in both instances is first The “Promised Land” in both instances is first

viewed from a mountaintop (chapter 18 in the viewed from a mountaintop (chapter 18 in the novel).novel).

– 12 tribes of Israel: 12 members of the Joad 12 tribes of Israel: 12 members of the Joad family (counting Connie).family (counting Connie).

The Grapes of Wrath: Exam 2 The Grapes of Wrath: Exam 2 previewpreview

Identify instances where we see the shift from “I” to “We.” Recognize Identify instances where we see the shift from “I” to “We.” Recognize how this connects to Transcendentalism. Review the PowerPoint how this connects to Transcendentalism. Review the PowerPoint notes.notes.

Particularly re-visitParticularly re-visit– Chapter 17: Review the “society” that sets up nightly on the road: Chapter 17: Review the “society” that sets up nightly on the road:

the rules, the customs, the punishments, etc.the rules, the customs, the punishments, etc.– Chapter 18: The conversation between Sairy Wilson and Casy Chapter 18: The conversation between Sairy Wilson and Casy

before the families separate.before the families separate. Would you generally know about:Would you generally know about: Mae, the waitress at the diner (chapter 15) and what happens there?Mae, the waitress at the diner (chapter 15) and what happens there? The one-eyed man at the junkyard, how Tom reacts to him, and Tom The one-eyed man at the junkyard, how Tom reacts to him, and Tom

and Al’s purpose for going there (chapter 16)?and Al’s purpose for going there (chapter 16)? The declining number of Joads?The declining number of Joads?

“the grapes of wrath” discussion notes 12-18. american transcendentalism a further look ralph...

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