Tom And Jim Casy In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

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In John Steinbeck's’, The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad and Jim Casy are two different characters, but throughout the book, readers discover that they actually have many similarities as well. Tom and Jim meet in the beginning of the novel when Tom is out looking for his family. Jim doesn’t have a family with him, so he decides to stay with Tom and embarks on a journey with the whole Joad family. Throughout the novel, Tom and Jim form a brotherly bond. Jim is there to help the family and Tom make it to California, and find work for himself. Tom’s world revolves around his family. He has no regrets about his past life and is determined to make the most of his present life. Tom Joad and Jim Casy share a couple similarities. One of them being that …show more content…
When they first meet, Tom is on his way to find his family, while Jim has no family to get back to, which is one of the reasons why he asks Tom to tag along. It ironic that both these characters become best friends due to the fact that Tom Joad is an ex-murderer and Jim Casy is an ex-preacher. These characteristics are on opposite ends of the spectrum.They are also different because out of the crimes both the men have committed, Jim Casy is the one who regrets the crime he has committed. He cuts himself off from preaching anymore, walking along the countryside looking for a new meaning. Tom Joad, on the other hand, does not regret the crime he committed. He served his time. His crime is in the past, he feels the need to leave it there. He does not regret killing the man, he sees it as self-defense. He states that he would do it again if he was ever in the same situation. Another difference between these two characters would be that Tom Joad is more of an independent individual. Jim Casy relies more on people. For example, Tom Joad is more open, he even started a labor union. Jim Casy is more mellow, he mostly observed and helped when he was needed. Both characters have different traits that distinguish them from all the other characters. All through the story, Tom Joad and Jim Casy revolve differently. There are some similar aspects that bring these characters together, forming their

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