This passage particularly struck me as Steinbeck explains what sets humanity apart from all other species—what makes us so different that we can excel and progress. Steinbeck explains that it is our hard work that builds us up, and in this way I believe he alludes to to the migrant workers as if to say that while they deserve fair wages, unions, and better working conditions, their hard work is not required to diminish. The quotation above adopts an almost biblical tone as it speaks of the toils of man, rapturous in its conviction that man 's muscles “[ache] to work” however everyone should still be treated equally and fairly. One reason I love this quote is that it differentiates what makes humanity so special compared to the rest of nature using beautiful language.
The novel takes on a different tone when Casy is killed by the police. Tom Joad is taken aback by the murder and is transformed into someone who is truly motivated to go about making change happen in the society. In the quote above Tom takes on an almost vigilante role in his rant, needing to take the law and justice into his own hands because he realizes the system is not going to fix itself. Tom adopts responsibility for all those suffering out there, setting himself on a mission to make things right. While Tom had seen some awful things …show more content…
While it is not the typical “lord bless this food” sort of blessing it conveys Casy 's perspective and view of the world. This philosophy that all things have an inherent holiness and value to them continues throughout the book, then arguing that such holiness is only removed after an act of cruelty. In this way Steinbeck conveys that the migrant workers each of an inherent value to them and through running them out of their homes and jobs others corrupt themselves. Casy believes that to be holy is to be equal with the rest, and those that assert power over the okies are far flung from
The novel takes on a different tone when Casy is killed by the police. Tom Joad is taken aback by the murder and is transformed into someone who is truly motivated to go about making change happen in the society. In the quote above Tom takes on an almost vigilante role in his rant, needing to take the law and justice into his own hands because he realizes the system is not going to fix itself. Tom adopts responsibility for all those suffering out there, setting himself on a mission to make things right. While Tom had seen some awful things …show more content…
While it is not the typical “lord bless this food” sort of blessing it conveys Casy 's perspective and view of the world. This philosophy that all things have an inherent holiness and value to them continues throughout the book, then arguing that such holiness is only removed after an act of cruelty. In this way Steinbeck conveys that the migrant workers each of an inherent value to them and through running them out of their homes and jobs others corrupt themselves. Casy believes that to be holy is to be equal with the rest, and those that assert power over the okies are far flung from