“There is only one thing which can master the perplexed stuff of epic material into unity; and that is, an ability to see in particular human experience some significant symbolism of man's general destiny” (Lascelles Abercrombie). Symbolism is the use of an idea or object to represent a different idea. John Steinbeck employs the use of symbolism in his book, “The Grapes of Wrath” in many different ways, through the old turtle featured in chapter 3, a character in the novel, Jim Casy, the dog getting run over by the car, and Rose of Sharon’s pregnancy.
One of the first symbols Steinbeck employs is in an interrogatory chapter. The chapter follows a turtle who is flipped over, attacked, and threatened and yet continues to go towards its destination. “Nobody can’t keep a turtle though. They work at it and work at it, and at last one day they get out and away they go,” (Steinbeck 21). The turtle’s persistence is symbolic of the migrant’s perseverance in heading west. In the interrogatory chapter we see the turtle get run over by the truck just like the migrants were crushed by the bank. The turtle was threatened by an ant and he closed up his shell and retreated to …show more content…
When she has a still birth it symbolizes the finish of the Joads. However, her pregnancy doesn’t signify life for the migrants in general just the Joads. It is her final act of kindness that is a symbol for life in general and how it will go on for other migrants even if it won’t for the Joads. The most obvious symbol though is the Joads themselves. For the Joads are simply one story and their struggles represent the hard times of the other migrants. Their desperate cling to family and what they hold dear is the same struggle that many across America are dealing with too. Steinbeck cleverly uses this symbol and the symbols from above to craft a novel that inspires people to make a
One of the first symbols Steinbeck employs is in an interrogatory chapter. The chapter follows a turtle who is flipped over, attacked, and threatened and yet continues to go towards its destination. “Nobody can’t keep a turtle though. They work at it and work at it, and at last one day they get out and away they go,” (Steinbeck 21). The turtle’s persistence is symbolic of the migrant’s perseverance in heading west. In the interrogatory chapter we see the turtle get run over by the truck just like the migrants were crushed by the bank. The turtle was threatened by an ant and he closed up his shell and retreated to …show more content…
When she has a still birth it symbolizes the finish of the Joads. However, her pregnancy doesn’t signify life for the migrants in general just the Joads. It is her final act of kindness that is a symbol for life in general and how it will go on for other migrants even if it won’t for the Joads. The most obvious symbol though is the Joads themselves. For the Joads are simply one story and their struggles represent the hard times of the other migrants. Their desperate cling to family and what they hold dear is the same struggle that many across America are dealing with too. Steinbeck cleverly uses this symbol and the symbols from above to craft a novel that inspires people to make a