Discussion Topic
Casy's self-sacrifice and moral integrity in taking the blame for Tom in The Grapes of Wrath
Summary:
Casy's self-sacrifice and moral integrity are evident when he takes the blame for Tom in The Grapes of Wrath. By doing so, Casy exemplifies his commitment to the greater good and his belief in collective responsibility, ultimately highlighting his role as a Christ-like figure who prioritizes the well-being of others over his own welfare.
What does Casy taking the blame in chapter 20 of The Grapes of Wrath reveal about his character?
In chapter 20 of The Grapes of Wrath, a contractor arrives at the squatter camp looking to hire laborers to pick fruit in Tulare County. Immediately, Floyd demands that these workers are given a contract and set wages for their work, but this is not going to happen, as the contractor has absolutely no intention of treating his workers decently.
Sensing that Floyd's a bit of a trouble-maker, the contractor duly summons a police deputy. The deputy arrests Floyd on a trumped-up charge and threatens the others. A fracas ensues, and Floyd runs off. The deputy shoots at him recklessly, injuring a woman in the hand. At that point, Tom trips up the deputy and Casy knocks him unconscious.
Casy agrees to take the blame for the fight. He does this because he knows that Tom has violated his parole by leaving Oklahoma and will go straight back to...
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prison if he's arrested. Not for the first time, Casy's showing that he's a selfless man who stands by the people he cares about. Ever since Tom got out of jail, Casy's been his guide and mentor, providing him with much-needed moral guidance.
But Casy knows that Tom isn't the finished product yet—or anything like it—and so needs to keep out of trouble as much as possible. Hence his decision to take the blame for the fight with the police deputy and spare Tom a journey back to prison.
Why does Casy take the blame for Tom when police return in The Grapes of Wrath?
In chapter 20 of The Grapes of Wrath, a contractor arrives at the camp looking to recruit fruit pickers for a farm in Tulare County. A young man called Floyd Knowles demands a contract and a set wage for the fruit packers. A perfectly reasonable request, one might think, but this is not how men like the contractor conduct their business. So when Floyd starts making demands, the contractor immediately senses that he's dealing with a troublemaker who needs to be put in his place.
The man summons a sheriff's deputy, who proceeds to arrest Floyd on a trumped-up charge and threatens the others. A scuffle ensues, and in the melee, Floyd runs off. The deputy recklessly starts shooting at him, injuring a woman in the process. Tom intervenes, tripping up the deputy. Casy then whacks him unconscious from behind.
Casy agrees to take the rap for what's happened because he doesn't want Tom to get in trouble. Tom has already violated the terms of his parole by leaving Oklahoma. If Tom is in any way implicated in the attack on the sheriff's deputy, then he will go straight back to prison. Casy doesn't want this to happen to his friend, so he volunteers to take the rap.