Grapes of Wrath: Jim Casey as a Christ Figure In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck introduces the reader to a variety of different and very significant characters. However, most of each character's individuality lies within what they symbolize in the microcosm of the Joad family and their acquaintances, which in turn represents the entire Depression-era migrant population. One of these characters is that of Jim Casey, a former preacher and longtime friend of the Joads. In this story, Casey represents a latter-day Christ figure who desires to bring religious stability to the flourishing of migrant families facing the West. Steinbeck manages to give Jim Casey the exact initials as the historical savior (JC), which allows the reader to latch onto this connection right from the start. However, Casey's relationship with Christ goes beyond these simple coincidences and rather manifests itself in their similar plans of action. One of the many similarities between Casey and Christ is that Casey had also drifted into the forests to "soul search" and discover the answers to sometimes hidden questions. In this particular situation, Casey himself states the comparison between Christ's actions and his actions as he gives a grace at Joad's breakfast table, "...I've been in the hills, thinking, you could almost say Jesus went into the wilderness to think His way out of a mess of troubles" (Steinbeck chapter 8). Casey continues further during his rather rambling grace, “I got tired like Him… I got confused like Him… I went into the wilderness like Him, without camping stuff” (Steinbeck ch.8). With Casey's character openly admitting, without sounding presumptuous, that he and Jesus Christ are somewhat similar, he bluntly continues to let the reader realize that Casey was truly meant to be the Christ figure of this book. Yet another resemblance between Jim Casey and Jesus Christ can be seen when Casey decides to venture out and join a union group to prevent strike wages from falling further. This represents the event of Jesus Christ and his faithful disciples, who travel with him in an attempt to spread their beliefs to all the people. Furthermore, there were many people who wanted to follow Christ and his pursuit, but refused out of fear of persecution, just as migrant workers feared an upset of government retaliation against troublemakers or "reds".".