GOW is rife with symbolism, themes, and motifs....flowers, the dead child, fallow fields...
Themes--when man rejects other humans, he rejects his own humanity
No man can exist without affecting mankind
Any others?
Motifs-- religion, rebirth, spring, seeds, martyrs and mothers-- What did you see?
And the moral---What is it?
Grapes...
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19 comments:
I think there were a few biblical references in the book, but i'm pretty sure you can find biblical corrolations in any book or movie. The religous symbolism was important, but Steinbeck was not making that the purpose of the book, he was trying to show the hard lives of people at that time...
Theme-there are strength in numbers??
Moral-are we talking like moral order, or moral corruption?
Motifs-definitely changing leadership and anger....
i think the real moral of the story is the whole golden rule idea. did anyone notice how, even though the Joad's were treated incredibly badly by strangers, they were always willing to help anyone else out?? even though their karma sucked, things might have looked up (even though we'll NEVER know because steinbeck didn't actually FINISH the book)
TURTLE!!
Themes--The family comes first, thr promised land does not exist, man is a united entity.
Motifs--Animals (they were symbolic).
Moral--Life sucks. Get a helmet.
Motif: Death! Death! Death! Death! Obviously both literally and figuratively.
I don't think karma had anything to do with it, it was just how things were at this time.
I agree with froggie, the people that got hurt were the people that hurt other people. Not hurt but had bad luck of some sort. I think it's just karma. you get what you ask for. :\
I think there are several morals, depending on how your personal experiences make you understand the book. I got something about perseverance. And, my family is very close so I think that a moral is that the family will always help you get through.
I realeized that they actually went out of their way to help people they didn't know and even better, didn't know if they could help them. So i guess the theme (i think) would be no matter how bad things get for you, you should still remember to try to help others. Don't become inhumane.
cjamesb, I agree. There was quite a bit of religious symbolism. Whether or not it was intentional on Steinbeck's part is really not important.
i'm kind of wondering if steinbeck actually had a moral. i mean, i read "invisible man" this summer, and it had a not-ending kind of like this one, except way less gross, lol. it was about racism, and it didn't really propose a solution to racism, but it just kind of alerted the reader to what was going on. so, i don't know, maybe that's what steinbeck was doing with the great depression...
well, as sad as it is that the turtle did not return, animals seemed to play a big part of symbolism in the novel. The reocurring theme (motif i guess) did appear to be religiously affiliated. The family also seemed pretty important too, like how Ma always tried to keep the family together, or do what is best for them.
The book had ton of themes and the religious symbolism was interesting. I do agree with cjb in that it wasn't Steinbeck's main purpose though it did serve to provide structure for the lives of the characters. Morals..stay your course, never lose faith and always have hope in the inherit good of humanity.
and of course, don't trust the rich people.
It's true that no man can exist without effecting humankind because for every action that occures in this world there will be a domino affect that will chain its way through the human race. And while it may not affect some people it will affect other.
where'd you get that from lauren? it sounds like legitimate philosophy or something.
yeah... I mostly got that money rules all and the good people are the ones without. It's a very cynical veiw, I guess.
The moral would be that people will always have it rough and that you should keep moving on no matter what.
I think that a theme is all life comes from the land and you must value the importance of the land in order to survive. I think that a motif is death, and religion, and the importance of the land. I think that the moral is even in hard times family will get you through it and religion helps here too.
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