scene the theme of Selfishness vs Altruism is being played out. This tells us that the Joads are caring, helpful, kind and selfless people.

Dust Bowl era

Dust Bowl Migrants

How does the film express hope, despite despair? Hope: they are very hopeful throughout the whole movie in many different scenes given the circumstances that they are in. They were hopeful that they were always going to find work.

What does touched mean in Grapes of Wrath? Muley exists as a ghost on his land. Everyone else has moved on but Muley chooses to lurk about in the shadows. Muley claims that he has been “touched”, that he is alone and damned.

The factors that made Muley Graves be touched or half-mad were, first, the land that has been meaningful for him and his family was sold to the Shawnee Land and Cattle Company and second was they had to leave their home.

Grampa’s Death Grampa feels ill, and goes to rest in the peace of the Wilsons’ tent, where he has a stroke and dies. In addition to feeling shocked and saddened by Grampa’s death, the Joads are embarrassed that he died in the tent of strangers.

He doesn’t preach, even though he likes to talk, and he ”got no God”. He will pray when forced into it or the situation demands it, such as when Grampa Joad suffers a stroke. Jim Casy admits that ”it’s a nice thing not bein’ a preacher no more. ” His reasoning is because of his desire to be with women.

Jim Casy is the moral spokesman of the novel and is often considered a Christ-figure. The initials of his name, J.C., are the same as Jesus Christ, and like Christ, he wanders in the wilderness. In Christ-like fashion, Casy sacrifices himself when he turns himself in to save Tom after an altercation with a deputy.

Muley shares his supper of cooked rabbit, while telling them how out of touch he’s become from living alone. Listening to Muley helps Casy recognize his calling: he needs to go out on the road to give comfort to these dispossessed people.