Oversoul in The Grapes of Wrath Essay Example

In many religions, there is this idea that everyone is connected in some way or form. Whether it be the “Oversoul” idea or that everyone is connected at an equal level. In transcendentalism there is a subcategory called, “The Oversoul.” This can be seen in, Grapes of Wrath. Steinbeck incorporates transcendentalism in the novel by representing The Oversoul as a character, Casey's influence on Tom and how it connects to transcendentalism, and the farming machines and taking away the land connection of the other characters.

Transcendentalism is the main idea that everyone is equal and are inherently good but they can be corrupted by society and institutions. Every person on earth, equally, has knowledge about themselves and the world around them. Connections to nature are a strong indicator that you are spiritually connected to everything on Earth. Transcendentalists believe in 3 basic essential values: individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature. 

When we are introduced to Casey's theory we are more introduced to the idea of the  Oversoul. The Oversoul is a more narrowed down version of Transcendentalism. A subcategory if you will. Oversoul is the idea that every individual is eternally connected with every other living thing in the universe.  Casey mentions continuously throughout the book of his belief and how humanity has one big soul, “the Oversoul.”

The first introduction to transcendentalism in the book was strong and to the point, “‘Figgered about the Holy Sperit and the Jesus road. I figgered, ‘Why do we got to hang it on God or Jesus? Maybe,’ I figgered, ‘Maybe it’s all men and women we love; maybe that’s the Holy Sperit-the human spirit-the whole shebang. Maybe all men got one big soul ever’body’s a part of.’ Now I sat there thinkin’ it, an’ all of a suddent- I knew it. I knew it so deep down that it was true, and I still know it.” (Stienbeck, 24) Steinbeck created Casey to really add the emphasis on The OverSoul idea. If he didn’t add a character people could ignore it and never really think about the idea Steinbeck wanted to present. This phrase has just begun the concept of transcendentalism.

Before the end of the book, Tom starts to talk about just how much influence Casey had on him. And as he learns from Casey he starts to show through his words just how much his belief has changed, “I’ll be all aroun’ in the dark. I’ll be ever’where--wherever you look…” (Steinbeck, 419) This is a very subtle way of connecting Casey's idea of the oversoul to Tom’s leaving.  Tom had said before that Casey was starting to make sense, in a way, to him after talking to him for a while.  This really shows the concept of soul-bound connection between people. By saying Tom will be wherever they are it is as if he's saying since his soul connected to theirs he will literally be with them. 

The farming machines and the bank work together to break the bonds of man and the land he is connected to. Throughout the whole book there are inner chapters. The banks are portrayed as the bad guys who are breaking the connection of the people to the land in many of these chapters. Like scissors cutting the ribbon at an opening ceremony but there's nothing but barren land on the other side for the consumers. The banks have severed the connection between the people in nature. They served as the main component of The Over-Soul and its idea of nature to man connection.

So in conclusion, Steinbeck used many ways to incorporate his idea of transcendentalism in the novel by representing transcendentalism through a character to act as a “informer” to the reader, The influence Caesy had on Tom and his view on transcendentalism, and showing the theme in the way the farming machines had taken away the land connection to the other characters.