Grapes of Wrath's Religion Found in Mankind
Characters Develop Their own Philosophies on Humanity
Dec 23, 2008
The migrant religion ripens as the journey continues; characters’ developing philosophies exemplify the belief in mankind.
Mae the Waitress
Steinbeck’s intercalary chapters provide an instance where a non-migrant exerpiences the “holy sperit”. Mae, a waitress at a hamburger stand along Highway 66, slaves over the griddle serving customers ranging from the rich to the poor. She hates it when the rich stop for a bite because they leave nothing of a tip, rendering a bitter waitress who does not believe in the generosity of people. When a migrant father asks for a loaf of bread worth ten cents Mae becomes frustrated and turns him away. But after encouragement from her fellow worker, Mae gives the father a fifteen cent loaf for ten cents, exemplifying her generosity.
As the day continues, a truck driver who saw Mae’s generosity pays for his bill, not only covering the extra five cents that the father did not pay, but also a giant tip for Mae. This perpetual kindness develops her new found belief in mankind. Through Mae’s act of kindness and her ultimate gift, Steinbeck shows how goodness is rewarded with goodness. Therefore, people are in control of contributing and allotting to and from the holy spirit and the power of humanity.
Holiness of Ma
When Ma is caring for sick Granma, a Jehovite woman wonders why Ma “[can’t] stan’ the sweet breath of Jesus” when she offers a prayer meeting in Granma’s honor. Ma replies with a simple “we always been Holiness”. Steinbeck uses Ma’s answer to show how the Joads are believers, but not believers in the same power the Jehovites believe in. Instead of chanting some exhortation that might be futile, Ma comforts her ailing mother, a ritual that is essentially more effective in raising Granma’s spirits during her last breathes on earth. Ma’s concentration on Granma is like no other prayer, the power of the human spirit provides Granma with the comfort that prayers bestow if only answered.
Jesus Lovers
In Weedpatch, the Jesus-lovers undermine the goodness of conventional religion. Elizabeth Sandry tells Rose of Sharon her baby will be born “dead and bloody” because she “hug dances” (310). These Jesus-lovers believe in a religion that ultimately inhibits kindness and generosity through nonacceptance of “unholy” people. As the hypocrites watch the other migrants at the government camp dance they see “them folks ridin’ to hell on a poker” (342).
Steinbeck uses the Jesus-lovers to exemplify how conventional religion can be futile and counterproductive— despite the “moral” tenets they hold, they exclude the “sinful” from this “holiness”.
Juxtaposed to the migrant religion of humanity, Jesus-lovers believe in a doctrine that can be twisted to being cultish. While migrants believe in the power of living beings, Jesus-lovers believe in the power of a dead leader. Belief in humanity brings about more faith than belief in Jesus.
John Casey
After John Casy is murdered, Tom professes that “a fella ain’t got a soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big one”(419). Tom promises to continue this ideology of Casy’s, saying that despite death he’ll be there, “[he’ll be] wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat…[he’ll be] wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy” (419). Through this idea of one giant soul, human beings do not just benefit from one another through emotional support, but they benefit through the hope of an afterlife that allows them to continue to live on in spirit.
Steinbeck confronts his characters with notions of unorthodox and conflicting philosophies in order to develop the migrant religion. Despite the differences in predicament with characters such as Mae, Ma, and Tom they all hold the ideals of the migrant religion —the faith in the human spirit.
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