A Subtle Metamorphosis in The Grapes of WrathThe spirit of unity emerges as the one inexhaustible source of strength in John Steinbeck's classic The Grapes of Wrath. As the Joad family's world steadily crumbles, mutual hope preserves the members' sense of pride, courage, and determination. A lonely man has a bleak future; with others to love and be loved by, no matter how materially destitute one is, life is rich. This altruism, however, is not immediate; throughout the book several characters undergo a subtle metamorphosis. Tom Joad, recently paroled, has his first encounter with altruism while attempting to hitch a ride with a truck driver whose employer has banned the practice. When the truck driver points to the "No Riders" sign (11) carrying his truck, Tom responds, "But sometimes a boy¹ will be a good boy even if some rich bastard makes him wear a sticker.¹" (11) Steinbeck has cleverly cornered the man using a tool often implemented in Depression-era literature: the classification of wealthy perpetrators as anonymous, thus convincing the truck driver that he's "not someone a rich bastard could kick." (11) However, this generous gesture is caused by shame and guilt, not by an independent moral factor. The notion of collective spirit is explored when Tom meets ex-preacher Casy. Casy abandoned classical religion because it lacks pragmatism and overemphasizes escapism. In a thesis repeated many times, he says: "Perhaps it is all the men and women we love; perhaps this is the Holy Spirit‹the human spirit. Perhaps all men have a great soul and every body is a part of it.¹" ( 33) this first point... half of the paper......ty. Rose of Sharon is selfish for much of the journey, especially when it comes to milk for her unborn child. When Winfield needs milk to regain his strength, he sulks: "I haven't had any milk. I should have some." (543) After delivering a stillborn baby, the family comes across a hungry man. She doesn't need to be pushed to breastfeed; “the two women [Ma and Rose] looked deeply into each other” (618) is all the interaction needed. His symbolic gesture of looking beyond his own worries to help another, of giving himself to breathe life into another, of putting nutrients meant for a relative into a stranger's body, is a fitting way to end the book. The fact that she "smiled mysteriously" (619) at this action means that she has gained the knowledge that Casy spoke of at the beginning of the book, proving that even the most selfish have room for redemption..