The Grapes of The wrath - Essay Example

He is in his late twenties and is highly respected by his family. The story starts off with Tom being released from the prison. He was imprisoned for four years for killing a man in a fight. "Homicide," he said quickly. "That's a big word—means I killed a guy. Seven years. I'm sprung in four for keepin' my nose clean" (Steinbeck 13). This shows that he obviously has certain violent tendencies. He cannot keep his temper in check, can lose his senses at it being crossed. He also seems to be quite powerful physically.

The amount of time spend in jail has, of course, changed his personality but he cannot possibly turn a new leave completely and as it is shown later, these former traits come out at different parts of his journey. Tom is also quite blunt; he does not seem to be embarrassed about people guessing about him having a criminal record. He seems to be proud of himself as a person and very sure of himself. He is also determined and wills things to go his way. He does not strike to be as an educated person and, in fact, he is not.

He cannot read or write though he asserts that he could if he wanted to. Tom is sly enough and manages to convince a driver to drop him off near his home, easily keeping up with the conversation. There he comes across a preacher called Jim Casy. They get reacquainted, building a new friendship. Casy is no longer the believer of the things as he was earlier. Later in the story, Casy is shown to be a great influence on Tom with certain repercussions attached to it. The two get closer and Casy makes Tom realise what unfairness and prejudice people are suffering through.

"Well, you and me got sense. Them goddamn Okies got no sense and no feeling. They ain't human. A human being wouldn't live like they do. A human being couldn't stand it to be so dirty and miserable. They ain't a hell of a lot better than gorillas" (Steinbeck 221). On one of such arguments with the police, Casy turns violent and is arrested. When he is released, Tom goes back to him. Casy is shot dead by a policeman in front of Tom. To avenge the death of a friend, Tom shows his loyalty by killing an officer.

Here, the murderer reemerges. On the way to his home, Tom picks up a stray turtle. "An old turtle," he said. "Picked him up on the road. An old bulldozer. Thought I'd take 'im to my little brother. Kids like turtles" (Steinbeck 21). This shows that despite the tough personality he is intent on showing to others, though he has a volatile temperament, he still is in touch with his human side. He has enough affection for his siblings to want to take something for him to make him happy. In the different areas of the text, Tom is shown as fondly remembering his family.

He obviously loves them quite a bit. At reaching the house, Tom is informed by Muley Graves the neighbor that his family have left and gone to Uncle John’s, planning to pack up and migrate to California in search of jobs. He finds them, time and time again shows his fondness for his family. On their road trip to California, his grandparents pass away. Life is not easy in the new city until Noah, the oldest Joad child, gives in and leaves his family. Tom now officially becomes the head after his father.

He assumes the responsibilities and is respected by them. It is during these times that Tom starts to look at the conditions in the long run, decides to do something for the others and not just himself or his family. "I climb fences when I got fences to climb," said Tom. Casy