Grapes Of Wrath Death Analysis

The theme of death is prevalent throughout the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. While there are numerous literal deaths, where the character physically dies, there are also spiritual deaths. Migrants experience spiritual deaths when they are forced to leave their land that they are connected to. Both types of death expose the harsh plight of the migrants. Death can be thought of as an end to something, but it can also be seen as a new beginning. The novel uses literal and spiritual death as a way to justify communal thinking. This in turn exposes the new beginnings migrants have when they believe they have lost so much, and shift from “I” thinking to “we” thinking. While death brings closure to an aspect of one’s life, it also

Everyone is a part of “I” thinking, until they lose someone or something important to them. Connie never experienced death, so he selfishly runs away when he is confronted by problems. He runs out on Rose of Sharon because he believes “it would be a good thing [for him to] study up tractors”(272). All along Connie has been dead on the inside. He never had a true connection with land, so he could not relate to the Joads. Similarly, At Tom is selfish and only thinks about himself. This is why he decided to kill Herb Turnbull: he needed to protect himself. Following Jim Casy’s death, Tom understands that he must try to unite the migrants. He realizes that he must think for others, rather than himself. The Wainfields, who lose their daughter to Al, decide to stay to help out the Joads. They shift from thinking about their family, to how they can help out Rose of Sharon and the other migrants. They offer Rose of Sharon sympathy when they learn that has had a stillborn baby. Those who experience death of a close family member choose to give up their selfish “I” thinking and change to “we” thinking as it exposes them to the harsh reality they will face if they do not come