Biblical allusions are prominent in John Steinbeck's, The Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck uses the protagonist, Tom Joad, and ex-preacher Jim Casy to symbolize Christ-like figures throughout the book. The family is often used to represent a people or specific persons in the Bible. The journey that the Joads embark upon itself is a symbol from the Bible. The biblical symbolism that is present throughout The Grapes of Wrath greatly enhances the meaning of the story …showed first 75 words of 778 total…

…showed last 75 words of 778 total…not sacrificed themselves. The perseverance of the Joads shows that difficult times can be overcome if the person continues to try. Both the Joads and Israelites were able to survive because they were in large groups. If either had been smaller in number, it is much more likely that the groups would have fallen apart. Not only do the biblical allusions enhance the plot and characters, but also the reader by providing lessons for life.