Religious Symbolism in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath

The religious symbolism in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath is presented to the readers through his characters. The Joads are looking for a better life in California after their farm was taken by the bank. Tom Joad is on his way to reunite with his family after recently being released from prison when he runs into Jim Casy, ex-preacher, who joins the Joads in their journey west. On the road, they struggle through obstacles and learn their dream might not become a reality as they meet other migrant workers. Steinbeck connects his character Jim Casy to Jesus and Tom Joad to a disciple as they perform christ-like actions on their migrant journey west.

The sacrifice Casy makes for Tom when he takes the blame could be seen as similar to those of Christ. A contractor comes to the Hooverville camp the Joads are staying at and offers them jobs, but they don’t accept because the man refuses to show his license. The man calls over the deputy from his truck who tries to force Floyd, an acquaintance of the family, into the vehicle. Floyd defends himself by punching the deputy in the face, who then trips over the leg Tom stuck out. Tom is on parole and cannot get in trouble with the law, so Casy tells him to go hide and admits to assaulting the officer when backup comes. “If you mess in this your whole fambly, all your folks, gonna get in trouble. I don’ care about you. But your ma and pa, they’ll get in trouble. Maybe they’ll send Tom back to McAlester.” (Steinbeck, 266) Tom had already fled the scene, and Casy is trying to convince Al to leave so that the Joads aren’t affected by the cops. Nobody told Casy to take responsibility but he does it anyway. Putting others before yourself is something that not many people can do, especially for recent friends and for something this serious.  His sacrifice shows how selfless he is, just like Christ. Jesus was constantly helping people in need without expecting anything in return. The sacrifices made from the kindness of their hearts show the resemblances in their morals.

Jesus was a prophet and people looked up to him, just like how Casy is the one the Joads look to for words of wisdom. As the Joads wait for the engine to cool, Uncle John confides in Casy as they sit in the truck. John had a wife that died after he didn’t agree to get her medical care when she felt sick. He feels guilty for her death and thinks that he could be bringing negative energy to his family, but Casy tells John that he believes something becomes a sin only if the individual thinks it is. “Uncle John talked to the preacher. ‘Casy,’ he said, ‘you’re a fella oughta know what to do.’  … ‘I wanna ast you—well, you think a fella could bring bad luck to folks?’” (Steinbeck, 224) Uncle John carries an emotional burden from his past, and his story isn’t something he shares with everyone. Casy is someone that people trust enough to take advice from, similar to how people would listen to Jesus as he spread God’s word. After Jesus was gone, his disciples continued his work, and after Casy dies, Tom promises to do the same for Casy. Steinbeck shows a resemblance between Casy and Jesus by telling the readers that they have the same impact on others.

Even during his last moments in life, comparisons of Christ can be made to Jim Casy. Casy had been in jail for admitting to Tom’s assault on an officer and reunites with Tom on a roadside camp after being released. Casy is explaining what he learned during his time in prison when a group of men with weapons and flashlights approach them, shining the lights at the ex-preacher. “Casy went on, ‘ You don’ know what you’re a-doin’.’ The heavy man swung with the pick handle. Casy dodged down into the swing. The heavy club crashed into the side of his head with a dull crunch of bone, and Casy fell sideways out of the light. ‘Jesus, George. I think you killed him.’” (Steinbeck, 386) Casy dies a martyr, just like Christ on the cross because they were both killed because of their religious beliefs. Casy and Christ also had similar responses to their impending death. Jesus’s last words "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," sound almost identical to Casy’s. Neither of them blames the people responsible for their death, which shows that Casy has the same abilities of forgiveness as the son of God. The resemblance between Casy and Jesus’s death is too alike to be a coincidence, Steinbeck wanted to show Casy’s Christ-like aspect.

Steinbeck parallels Tom and Casy to Christ in The Grapes of Wrath through the sacrifices and messages made by his characters. Casy relates to Jesus through his charitable actions and influence on the beliefs of others. His sacrifices, trust in relationships, and death all imitate the characteristics of Christ. Even simple details like both their initials being J.C. correspond to the idea of similarity between the two. Jesus is the savior in Christianity,  and Steinbeck uses his story to represent the migrants’ spirituality through his character Jim Casy.