Grapes Of Wrath Movie Essay

The Great Tom Joad

(A detailed analysis of why Tom Joad is the best character from the Grapes of Wrath Film)

The 1930’s, a time in American history not to be forgotten for its eventful hardships now known as the Great Depression. It was during this time that the United States was at its all time low economically in years, and much of the American people were beginning to feel the pain of such issues. In addition to being financially unstable the U.S was also undergoing a great weather disaster soon to be known as the Dust Bowl. A time in American history where the farms of the west from, North Dakota, to Texas and Oklahoma were destroyed due to topsoil being blown away from over harvesting of the ground. It was during this time period

that another American revolution was beginning to take over the agricultural side of business; the industrial revolution had begun to transform family owned farms into monopoly-styled, farming enterprises.

This need to turn framing into a business like scenario came from the introduction of tractor and machine powered equipment that could do the work much faster than the ordinary man could, thus meaning increased production if the business owned and worked the land as compared to the family farmer. It is during this time period that one of America's most famous books is set in, The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck (1902-1968). The book quickly became popular and in 1940 the book became a movie. The movie was a wonderful recreation of the book and brought some of the books most famous characters into reality. Hidden within the book are a multitude of different characters as the plot of the story follows a family living in Oklahoma during the 1930’s. The oldest son Tom Joad has just been released from prison on account of murder, and upon returning home finds his family home deserted. He quickly learns his family was forced off their land by a company and a bank. The family moved in with Tom’s, Uncle John’s home. Upon arrival he realizes the Family is leaving the California where work is promised according to flyers, and is where the rest of the farmers have already gone. The story then follows the family's journey to

California and the hardships they face upon realizing there is no work for them and they are now a homeless and broken family. In the end the movie is an incredible film to watch and study its multitude of characters; however the best character in the move is the movies main protagonist Tom Joad.
One reason why Tom Joad quickly becomes one of audiences favorite characters within the movie, is because of what Time does not do after getting out of prison on payroll. It had been years since Tom had seen his family after being placed in prison on accounts of murder, after a bar room fight some years back. However, Tom is let out early on accounts of good behavior and is put on patrol. Tom is a very knowledgeable human being and understands that being put on patrol means he cannot leave the state of Oklahoma, otherwise face warrants in his name. This realization of Tom is known to the reader and Tom, but not his family; and as they prepare to leave the great state of Oklahoma, for good just days after Tome gets out of prison, Tom must make a huge decision. If he leaves he joins his family and keeps his mother happy because the maily remains together, however if he does leave he face the trouble of the law all the way to California, and the potentiality of endangering himself because of his failing to comply with the law. In the end Tom does something that truly sets him apart from the other characters in the movie, Tom places the wellbeing of his mother and his family over his fear of being taken back and placed in prison for an extended period of time for breaking parole. This is one of the first examples where it can be seen Tom’s willingness to do things for others rather than himself, and helps to show his true character, not as a criminal, but as a loving family man.
Again later in the film Tom will reveal yet another instance where he become bigger than the situation at hand. This event takes place while the family is staying at a farm where they have found work for five cents a crate to pick peaches. To recap a few events that happened prior to the family coming to the farm; Casey takes the blame for hitting a man over the head, that in actuality was performed by Tom, and Casey has not been seen since. The family left the Hooverville, and has moved to work the peach farm described above; however while entering the camp a large protest or strike is occurring from the previous workers. This information is discovered by Tom, one night while attempting to find out what the ruckus was about when they arrived. While attempting to discover the cause of the mob Tom stumbles into the preacher Casey’s camp, where he learns that in actuality the workers are striking because thei pay was reduced to an unlivable amount. Tom also learns that Casey is claimed from the outside as the leader and has a high price placed upon his head. While the conversation continued movement is heard outside and the men flee in fear; however they aren't fast enough, and Casey is killed in front of Tom. In retaliation Tom hits the man that killed Casey over the head and kills Casey’s killer. Tom then flees back to his family rooming board in fear and remains hidden. It is from this experience the watcher can again see that Tom is no criminal, but a caring individual who watches out for his friends and families back. Tom does not kill the Casey’s killer for any unreasonable reasoning, the man had no right to kill Casey, an innocent man, in the first place. Tom does not kill because he is a killer he kills the man because he genuinely cares for Casey, and cannot stand to seen him be killed in such a way. Thus once again Tom is shown to have a more relatable side to the audience than previously seen, giving the reader even more reason to like Tom over the other characters.
At the end of the film Tom is seen to show traits that make him the love of the watcher, with courage and strength pouring from the young man as he prepares to leave his family.

After killing the man Tom and his family sneak out of the peach farm and find their way to a government funded safe haven; filled with running water and toilet, sinks, and stoves the camp is everything the family could imagine. However soon work must be found elsewhere to survive. It is during this time that Tom decides he has caused his family enough trouble and knows he must now leave. He explains to his ma that he will spend the rest of his life fulfilling Casey’s dream of helping the workers fight the employers. Tom will then give his famous I will be there speech, which Tom explains how every strike there is, ever dark his family finds, avery fight, every everything he will be there. He tells his family not to worry about for he will be there with them spiritually. Tom knows he must leaves he knows his family has suffered enough from him, and once again Tom shows the audience he is bigger than the situation. Tom eventually leaves to his and his ma’s despair, but he does what's right and he knows it was the right thing to be done. In the end Tom shows the audience again his loving care for more than just himself. Tom knows if he stays with his family his life will be easy, but his family will suffer; Tom shoes he is the bigger man by leaving. He may suffer, but at least his family

won’t; and thus shows the audience Tom is truly one of the most caring characters within the film.
In conclusion, because of the many distinct and fascinating attributes Tom exhibits throughout the film he quickly becomes the viewers favorite character. Tom shows that he he is more than a criminal, more than an outcast, more than some guy in California; Tom shows he is a caring, family man; who sticks up for what he believes in and is not afraid to defend his beliefs to his death. Tom shows he is a man of his word and a survivor of his times. In the end Tom’s character can be related directly to represent those who lived through the hard times of the 1930’s and showed great courage in their fight to survive. Tom not only represents a character, but a generation of forgotten heroes all of whom who showed the same courage and other attributes that Tom shows. Thus in actuality Tom is so much more than a man Tom is a symbol of the American way; a way of persistence, opinion, hope, and courage, a way that makes America the way it is today. Tom is not just Tom Joad, Tom is the American dream and America’s hero.