A Father's Love: Grapes of Wrath Photo Blog~

A theme that is littered through the novel Grapes of Wrath, is that of selfishness. It is shown through the way the banks take the lands of the struggling farmers. It is shown through the California farmers that would stop at nothing to crush the migrant farmers. It is shown in the way that Connie leaves Rose of Sharon. However, a contradictory theme (sadly, perhaps less prevalent) is love. Love is shown through Jim Casey's sacrifice. Love is shown through the Joad's loyalty to one another. Love is shown when Rose of Sharon nurses a starving man and prevents him from dying. However, perhaps the most raw form of love is that between a father and his son.  In the final part of The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck describes a father who gave up all of his food so that his son would be fed, even though he is now starving and nearly dead because of that decision. This image depicts the epitome of love because it shows a person, choosing to be completely selfless, for the sake of someone else. This example of the love that this father has for his child is made even more extraordinary because of how much selfishness and greediness there was at this point in time. It is used to show that their is still 'hope for humanity', and that there are still people who choose to take care of others, before they take care of themselves.

The picture above symbolizes this type of love. The cracked and seemingly old heart symbolizes the ability that some people have to hold onto love for one another even when that love is tested to its limits during the very hardest of times. Additionally, the heart has been placed on a pedestal, symbolizing that no matter what (whether it is facing starvation, lack of money, being forced to move, having to sell all of your belongings, having anything of value being taken from you, going through the pain of loosing loved ones to death, or being rejected and looked down upon by everyone), the love that someone holds for their family will endure through all tribulations.

I chose this theme because of the levels of depth that it contains. On the surface, it is easy to assume that, of course the father would do that for is son, because that is what parents are supposed to do. However, it became clear through reading this book, that when placed into the most physically, mentally and emotionally disruptive environments, even parents succumb to placing their own well being above that of their children's. This knowledge makes what the starving father did for his little boy even more heart-breaking. As the reader looks deeper, they begin to understand that, even though this man is starving to the point of death, his love for his son is stronger than his hunger and pain. This type of love is equivalent to the Hebrew word chesed, meaning unfailing and unbounded love, a love that covers all and will hold fast no matter what situation that it is placed into. I chose this theme for the raw beauty and simple wonder that it contains, and for the hope that it brings, both during the period it was written in, and today.