The Grapes of Wrath Religion

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The Grapes of WrathReligion Philosophy
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Religion and Philosophy

• Structure similar to story of Moses
• Drought in Oklahoma enslavement of the Jews
  (Bank Egyptian oppressor)
• Journey
• 1. Journey to CA 40 yrs. Wandering in the
  desert
• 2. New laws in roadside camps 10 commandments
• Arrival in CA Promised Land

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• Characters
• Jim Casey JC (although some see as Moses
  leader of the people)
• Past preacher
• 2. Present goes on retreat Jesus in
  wilderness transformed
• a. Forgiveness there is no such thing as sin.
• b. Brotherhood sharing does womens work
• - Al at end tears down tarp tear away what
  separates you from other families

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• Sacrifice
• Stands in for Tom
• Doesnt resist at strike
• Says You dont know what your doin
• Jesus Christ had 12 disciples
• Rose of Sharon
• Biblical source for name
• Her baby Moses go and tell em
• Christians believe that in communion Christ gives
  himself, body and blood, in the form of bread and
  wine
• Self sacrifice to save starving man

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• Uncle John
• Opposite of Casey in that John is old religion
  filled with guilt
• Lizbeth Sandry old religion
• Steinbeck believed that the Bible contained
  basic truths about human nature and human life
  although he was against organized religion. He
  needed to appeal to his audience in different
  ways to get his message across.

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Other Philosophies

• Humanism
• Man is the center and the source of the truth and
  what is right
• Man has the ability to effect change
• Transcendentalism
• Oversoul
• Casey One big soul
• Tom A fella aint got a soul of his own, but
  ony a part of a big one.(537)
• Ma Were the people

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Uproar

• When the book was written there was tremendous
  uproar
• Anti-business
• Anti-Christian
• Communist
• Language
• Last scene