Chapter Four Flashcards
How does Tom’s treatment of the turtle outline him as a character?
Tom neither hurts or helps the turtle - he just carries it in his coat.
He is an observant character - does not use his power to hurt or help.
How is the close-knit nature of the community illustrated?
When Tom meets Casey under a tree, Casey remembers baptising Tom back when he was fixated on pulling girls pigtails.
They remember each-other and are immediately comfortable together.
Why did Casy quit preaching?
Plagued by guilt for having sex with women from his congregation.
Why does Casy occupy a moral gray area?
He abused the trust of women in his congregation yet seems genuinely remorseful.
What does Casy’s guilt derive from and what does this lead him to re-evaluate?
Stems from the black and white thinking of sin in religion - leads him to focus less on absolute judgements of good and evil and instead emphasises common humanity.
What does Casy believe the holy spirit is?
‘One big soul ever’body’s part of’
What relieves Casy?
That Tom remembers his baptism indifferently - a clear fear of hurting people during his preaching.
When does Tom’s morality become less clear?
When it was revealed his murder with a shovel was in self defence.
How is the horrific nature of the depression revealed?
Tom tells Casy jail time was not that unpleasant as he was kept clean and fed.
How did the Joad’s first acquire their house?
Used horses to drag another families abandoned house onto their land.
Is the taking of the house a dishonourable act in Tom’s eyes?
No - it appears perfectly normal to make use of something others have left behind.
Does Tom expect his family to still be there and what is revealed at the end of this Chapter?
Tom ironically says ‘less somebody stole it like Pa stole it’ - Believes them to be there.
It is revealed that their house is deserted.
