Power In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

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Poetry Reflection
William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 94”elaborates on the effects of power on one’s moral compass; comparably, John Steinbeck defines his view on power’s ability to demolish one’s morality in The Grapes of Wrath, thus proving that when given uncontrolled power, the moral compass is sacrificed as self-gain is prioritized. Within “Sonnet 94”, Shakespeare uses a variety of literary devices to establish his view on the effects of unrestrained power upon the morality of a person, especially when used for self-gain. The sonnet depicts, through a variety of images, that those who wield large amounts of power and choose to hurt the lesser are demoralized by their prioritization of self-preservation. The third quatrain specifically compares …show more content…
This establishes a relationship with Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 94” because not only does the corruption of authority play a major role in both the poem as well as the novel, but both scenes majorly focus on how the temptation of having the ability to hurt others is used. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s use of metaphors helps to shape the morality that is lost in striving for self-gain. Within the couplet of the sonnet, Shakespeare makes note of how “sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;” (Shakespeare). This line stresses how the deeds of a person in a position of power can turn them from the best person to the worst, ultimately due to the demoralization that it causes. Comparatively, Steinbeck uses the same temptation in regards to authority. Prior to his hostilely unethical execution, Jim Casy says, “you fellas don’ know what you’re doin’. You’re helpin’ to starve kids” (Steinbeck 386). Not only does this show that the theme is prevalent throughout the book, but it also reinforces how power can blind one to be reckless, and consequently immoral. The common theme that when given unrestrained power, the moral compass is sacrificed as self-gain is prioritized is thus clearly defined across these two mediums because while the sonnet discusses the demoralization of those in positions of authority, the entirety of Steinbeck’s …show more content…
This is comparable to John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, in which elements of the story exemplify similar traits, thus proving that when given unrestrained power, the moral compass is sacrificed as self-gain is prioritized. On the evening of November 13th, 2015, a tragedy shook not only France, but the entire world; “a series of attacks targeting young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at a popular nightspots killed at least 127 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II.” (Associated Press). When terrorists from an unknown extremist group were given the unrestrained power of murder, they abused the power. Through terrorizing innocent civilians such as the “young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out,” these extremists ultimately demoralized themselves in choosing to do harm for personal gain. Within Steinbeck’s novel, a similar situation, though on a much smaller scale, presents itself; “The heavy club crashed into the side of his head with a dull crunch of bone, and Casy fell sideways out of the light” (Steinbeck 386). As Casy’s death is described, the audience is introduced to a situation in which abused authority leads to the demise of the moral
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