Casey: Christ figure or misrepresented character?

Jim Casey is being hailed as the "Christ figure" in the book. Question to ponder: did Steinbeck INTEND for Casey to sort of portray Christ, or are people today just reading WAYYY to much into it? Share your thoughts.

Title: The Grapes of Wrath

Tell me, what does this title really mean? Why did Steinbeck chose this title for his book?

Rough Times

Steinbeck describes a lot of the stuff people went through in the migrant work areas. There is just so much that goes on and he explains it so well, that maybe that even he could have suffered from all this as well, or are these just the things he saw during his life?

Steinbeck's Religion

Based on the different events in the book, and the views of the characters so far (especially Jim Casy), what do you guys think is Steinbeck's religious views? Not only religous, but his overall view of life?

The Grapes

So at the end of chapter 25, the last sentence is:

"In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage" (477).

What do you think this means? Is some kind of mass revolt about to break out? What is meant by "the grapes of wrath"? Whose wrath is it? What could "the vintage" be??

Gaia

Wow. This Gaia myth is totally gross. She had more children with her own children. How does that relate at all to the book? I mean all that I can see is that it is completely wrong on so many different levels.

Government Camp

So.... on page 393, the Joads are entering the government camp and the watchman is telling them about everything that is wonderful, like hot running water, wash basins, and (most importantly) no cops. Tom asks:
" Why ain't they more places like this?"
The watchman replies with " You'll have to find that out yourself."

Why is the watchman so mysterious? What do you think is wrong or bad about the camp?