The Grapes of Wrath Section 6 (Chapters 25-28)

The timeline of events that has caused things to go so badly for small farmers in California is described. The small farmers at first did well for themselves, but then conglomerates moved in, which drove down the prices of produce. Soon, farmers found that the prices that they could get for selling their produce were lower than the cost of harvesting it, so many crops were simply abandoned and left on the ground to rot. These farms would soon be lost to banks, in much the same way as had happened in the Midwest.  

Other crops were worth more upon being discarded than they were being sold, but then armed guards had to be posted in order to prevent hungry people from taking the discarded food. While some starved, food was intentionally destroyed, in order to preserve the value of other crops. Even livestock was slaughtered and buried, for the same purposes.  

This wanton destruction creates a deep and seething rage among those who are starving and desperate.  

After a month at the camp, the family decides to head north, hearing rumors of work there.  

They are told that a few miles away, there is work available, picking peaches. Upon arrival there, the Joads observe throngs of angry people clashing with police. The Joads ask about what is happening, but are told that it’s not their business. They are ushered into the farm, and are assigned to a small cabin, within a group of other cabins. They head into the orchard, and begin working immediately.

When the pickers return at the end of the day, they give their wages to Ma, and she heads to the store for food. Ma finds that the only food available is at the company store, at highly inflated prices. The entire day’s wages are spent on dinner for that night.  

That evening, Al heads out, in search of female companionship, while Tom’s curiosity about the conflict at the front gate compels him to investigate. He asks the guards at the gate, who again tell him that it’s not his concern. They order him to return to his cabin.  

Tom instead slips through the darkness in pursuit of answers. He happens to come across Casy Casey, out of jail now, and leading a labor strike. Casy explains that the wages at the peach orchard were too low to live on, but that once he’d convinced others to stand up for the right to fair wages, that he and the others were removed from the property, and other workers were brought in. He said that Tom could be certain of one thing: That tomorrow, wages would be cut in half, just because that was the way that labor costs were cut down to size. 

While Tom and Casy are talking, a group of men hired by the ranch managers sneak up to attack the small group. Casy is killed instantly by a mighty blow from one man’s club. Tom, in turn, kills that man. He is able to escape the mob, but not before sustaining some brutal facial injuries.

He makes his way back to the cabin. The following morning, he tells his tale to the family. They realize that with his facial injuries, he’ll be immediately recognized by authorities as being involved in the altercation. They decide to hide him in the cabin, until he heals.  

A manhunt takes place, as a posse searches for the man they claim is a murderer. Nobody seems to have gotten a good look at Tom, but they are confident that their suspect will be recognizable from facial injuries certainly inflicted.  

And, the next day, as predicted by Casy, the wages are arbitrarily cut in half. Coupled with the fact that the only way to get food was to purchase it at the very expensive company store, the family chooses to leave. They pack the truck, concealing Tom in between some mattresses. They leave that evening, and Tom is not discovered by gate guards.  

Cotton picking is advertised, with handbills and signs. It draws pickers by the thousands. For those who arrive first, the work is good, as the pay is decent. They’ve got to purchase a sack for a dollar, then fill the sack as many times as they can. Wages are acceptable, and thus many are drawn to the cotton picking jobs. But, the jobs only last a few days, especially as more and more pickers arrive. Soon, an entire field can be cleared in just a few hours, as there are so many people working a single field. Some people now are unable to even earn enough to cover the cost of their bag.  

Cheating becomes a standard practice. As pickers are paid by the weight of each bag harvested, they suspect that the scales are intentionally set to read low. The pickers compensate by adding stones to their sacks, which has the effect of leading the scale operators to assume that all pickers are cheating, as well.  

Many people, though, are granted the luxury of being able to eat well for a few days, because of the cotton picking jobs.  

The family heads to a place they’ve heard of that offers good wages for cotton picking.  

They are given quarters that are old boxcars, with two families per car. They share a car with the Wainwright family. Tom, however, knowing that he’s wanted by the law, goes to find a place to camp out in a drainage ditch nearby. He’ll stay there, with Ma planning to bring food to him surreptitiously each night.  

One night, young Ruthie gets into a heated argument with another child. She blurts out that her older brother has killed two men. This revelation is likely to lead to Tom’s downfall, so Ma hurries off to warn Tom that he’s been exposed.  

Tom is not angry at his young sister’s indiscretion, but uses this opportunity to express his new mission. He has come to the conclusion that Casy’s crusade was righteous and good, and Tom intends to honor his memory by entering the fight for laborer’s rights. Ma expresses her concern, pointing out that Casy was actually killed for taking that stand, but Tom feels strongly that this is the correct path to follow. The two part ways, possibly never to meet again.  

The Joads share a boxcar with the Wainwright family. The families get along nicely, swapping stories and food. Al is smitten by the 16-year-old daughter, Aggie, and the two of them decide to get married. A small celebration is held to commemorate the engagement.   

Analysis:  

Again, we see Jim Casy as a symbolic representation of Jesus Christ, as he has not only re-appeared after what would have seemed to be a permanent vanishing, but now he delivers a message of redemption and hope to Tom, before giving his life for those that he cares for.  

The strength of family is also emphasized yet again, as we see Ma carefully using her skills to ensure that Pa feels empowered as the patriarch, in spite of his feelings of failure. We see the family work together to protect Tom, after he has killed a man.  

We also see that Tom’s conversion is now complete. Jim Casy, along with circumstantial events, have planted the seeds, and now with Tom in self-exile, he has time to reflect and decide what he wants to do. His choice is now clear, as he decides to pick up Jim Casy’s torch, and lead people in their fight for fair jobs.