Tom Jad's Transformation In The Grapes Of Wrath

In life and in literature, people learn, grow, and change from experiences. Everyone is born with innate characteristics, and he or she can allow life’s triumphs and difficulties to help or to hinder him or her. While some will cower in the midst of challenges, becoming bitter and apathetic, others will face obstacles head on and begin on the path of self-improvement. In The Grapes of Wrath, Tom Joad possesses strength, determination, and thoughtfulness that play to his disadvantage at first. Ultimately, as a unique spin on a coming of age story, his priorities switch from himself to his family, and his character can be viewed in a more positive light.

Persistence acted as a detriment rather than a virtue at the beginning of the novel. Having

just been released from prison, Tom was hardened. He engaged in arguments more frequently, and his strength was manifested in a rather pompous manner. In a confrontation with a truck driver, he argued: “You got me wrong, mister….Sure I been in McAlester. Been there four years….I don’t give a damn who know it. An’ I’m goin’ to my old man’s place so I don’t have to lie to get a job” (Steinbeck 12). Tom flaunts his prison experience and bluntly states where he is headed next. In this scenario, his power derives from his short temper with the truck driver. With a negative attitude, he wants nothing but to make his point and shoot back harsh answers to the truck driver’s questions. His moral deficit is also exhibited during this conversation, as he doesn’t regret killing the man who attacked him. This aspect of Tom’s personality undergoes a transformation as the novel progresses, however. Rather than displaying an air of haughtiness, his morals are strengthened. He views his murder with remorse and strives toward bettering himself. At the end of the novel, he embarks on a mission to fight inequality, working toward a better life for other families during the Great Depression. This gradual switch in focus from himself to others is a key aspect of his character development throughout the novel.
It is evident that Tom is persistent toward his goals; however, as his motivations change, his determination becomes more fruitful.

Initially, he focuses on his personal goals of getting girls and proving himself to everyone. He does not think through how his actions affect others. His homicide, for example, is an act that he should feel shame for, but he feels not even the slightest bit of regret. Surely, being in jail for 4 years has imposed a hardship on his family. They are deprived of a leader and an additional source of income, but he is more concerned with revenge. It is through his mother and his friend, Jim Casy, that he learns the true value of unity, which he begins to promote later on in the novel. After Casy’s death, Tom recalls his words: “Says one time he went out in the wilderness to find his own soul, an’ he foun’ he didn’ have no soul that was his’n. Says he foun’ he jus’ got a little piece of a great big soul. Says wilderness ain’t no good, ‘cause his little piece of soul wasn’t no good ‘less it was with the rest, an’ was whole” (Steinbeck 418). Tom learns the importance of sticking with his family and encouraging them on the journey to California; without unity, they wouldn’t have succeeded. It is, in fact, their harmony that allows them to work toward a common goal and set themselves apart from other distressed families. He takes his knowledge a step further by attempting to convince Noah to stay with the family rather than go off on his own.

Maintaining an optimistic outlook, he makes light of every challenge they face. He handles the car failures with poise, and he stays positive when Rose of Sharon is worried about the health of her baby. Together, his cheerfulness and sense of unity are the glue that holds his family together.
At times, someone can have a positive attribute, but it takes time for it to develop and allow the person to reach his or her full potential.

In Tom’s case, he is particularly concerned with the present. He is determined to make choices that will benefit himself, but he doesn’t consider the long-lasting effects. In an altercation with a deputy who tries to unjustly arrest Tom’s friend, Tom acts on impulse and trips the officer. At the time, Tom is intent on vengeance. Because Tom is on parole, however, Jim Casy feels compelled to unselfishly accept the blame. Tom learns from his experiences to implement forward thinking in his day-to-day life. He instills hope in his family members, reminding them of how he coped with imprisonment: “You got to think about that day, an’ then the nex’ day, about the ballgame Sat’dy” (Steinbeck 91). He utilizes his optimistic attitude throughout the journey, keeping his eyes set on their destination and on the promise of success in California. Whenever someone tries to discourage the Joads from persisting, he is the force that keeps everyone moving. Families claim that there was no food, no jobs, and no chance of wealth in California; nevertheless, Tom will not let their negative outcomes dictate his willingness to try. Despite his tendency to focus on what is right in front of him, Tom eventually reaches his peak as he becomes visionary and confident of the result of their

trip.
The Grapes of Wrath is a story of perseverance for the Joad family, but it is also a story of personal growth in the lives of each of the characters. From his time in jail to the moment they reach California, every negative circumstance is a test of Tom’s strength as well as a lesson on unity. Although he has always been intrinsically good, it was his experiences on the road that allowed him to redefine characteristics in his own life and progress towards a better future for his family.