Abstract: John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath is largely influenced by The Bible in many aspects such as character, narrative structure and some other biblical imageries. Jim Casy is regarded as Jesus Christ in reality; Tom Joad is indeed a Christian, fighting for the poor; Ma Joad is a perfect woman and also Virgin Mary to all the people. This novel also partly borrows the structure from Exodus. In addition, grapes carry the connation of promise; rain, water and flood symbolize the creation; Rose of Sharon’s dead baby is their dead Moses. This paper aims to find out how these biblical imageries function in the novel to make this novel a classic work in America.

Key words: The Grapes of Wrath; biblical imageries

CONTENTS 

摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction..1

1.1Introduction to John Steinbeck

1.2Introduction to the Novel

2. Biblical Imageries in the Novel2

2.1 Main Characters

2.1.1 Jim Casy: Jesus Christ

2.1.2 Tom Joad: Christian

2.1.3 Ma Joad: Virgin Marry

2.2 Narrative Structure: Exodus

2.3 Other Imageries

  2.3.1 Grapes: Promise

2.3.2 Rain, Water, Flood: Creation 

2.3.3 Dead baby: Moses

3. Conclusion8

Bibliography.10

Acknowledgements..11