The Grapes of Wrath and the American Religion
John Steinbeck Writes About Oakies' Religion
Dec 19, 2008 Christine Deakers
The Great Depression resulted in America's all time low in the economy as well as citizens' spirits. Disheartened, Americans looked toward their country for support and to find strength, but solace couldn't be found as unemployment rose to twenty-five percent.
John Steinbeck looks at a specific demographic affected by the Great Depression in The Grapes of Wrath. The American farmers demonstrate how the American spirit turned. Resulting from the disillusionment of the United States System, the Oklahoman farmers find religion in themselves because their country destroyed their faith in their previous religion.
American Religion and the Great Depression
The United States of America, a new world designated for liberation and equality, was founded upon the ideals of Christianity, bounty, and infinite hope.As the centuries progressed, the democratic institution shriveled and warped itself into a political machine compromising the idealism of America and its people.
By the 1930s, the government and powerful landowning androids left farmers and fellow heart-landers completely destitute via economic ignorance and debauchery of its own national faith. Despite environmental plagues, the Dust Bowl’s desolation was accompanied by the social stratification of regional demographics. Oklahoman Americans were no longer Americans— but Oakies.
Resilience Found in Religion
In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck chronicles the reestablishment of already established citizens. This “portrait of social upheaval” degraded Americans to utter refugees and excluded them from political contribution and social equality (Colvin). Deserted by the system and destroyed by the treachery of business, these now migrant Oklahoma natives left their homeland where not only their crops were cultivated but also their souls. Spirituality left in the dust, migrants like the Joads were not just chasing after the next paying job, they were chasing after the fruition of hope. Departing from the ideals of American discovery and tenets of Christianity, migrants were compelled to develop their own religion.
John Casy, characterized as a Christ figure, began his professional life as a preacher, but when he realizes people are “whippin’ the hell out of [themselves] for nothin’” he leaves his Christian life and becomes a vagrant just “figgerin’” (22). This “figgerin'” leads to Steinbeck’s portrayal of the migrant religion. “Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus”, Casy says, “maybe it’s all men an’ all women we love; maybe that’s the Holy Sperit — the human sperit— the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of” (24).
Through Steinbeck’s use of biblical references, characters’ philosophies, and the philosophies of his own, he develops The Grapes of Wrath to being a testament to the new American religion— the faith in humanity.
Continue the Article with The Grapes of Wrath and Biblical Allusions
Works Considered
The Grapes of Wrath. – New York : Viking, 1939
The Grapes of Wrath
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