Grapes of Wrath Essay: Steinbecks Use of Universal Archetypes

Use of Universal Archetypes in The Grapes of Wrath      John Steinbeck sets his reinvigorated The Grapes of Wrath during the Depression of the 1930s. Universal archetypes play a significant fictitious character in Steinbecks story. Steinbeck creates a cast of characters whose archetypes can be well related to. The Earthmother, haven versus hell, and the evil opine with the ultimately beneficial purport are archetypes described in The Grapes of Wrath to show the bad and advantageously times during a time of hardships.       During a period of arduous and spirited moments, the archetypal Earthmother can be identified in the Joad household. Ma Joad is the fort in the family. She thinks and cares not for herself but for the family and people. Ma has helped keep the family stable, She seemed to know that if she swayed the family agitate (96). Even in times when diet was scarce, Ma spared what she could to help those without. Ma said, ´ L ook, you little fellas go an get you each a savorless stick an Ill put whats lef for you (331). The Earthmother is characterized by the willingness and thoughtfulness in helping and nurturing the family and colleague neighbors. Mas daughter, Rose of Sharon, gradually changes to an Earthmother. Rose of Sharon finds herself being concerned with the welfare of her baby. She is in constant worry about whether she is giving enough nutrients from milk and food to bring a healthy baby in the world. Rose of Sharons last(a) act of nurturing shows how she accepts her role as Earthmother. She looked up and across the barn and her lips came unneurotic and smiled mysteriously (589).  With this smile, the mystery of motherhood is understood by Rose of Sharon. though she was unable to g... ...a sanctuary and a place of peace and beauty piece of music the hells are gruesome and of cruelty.   In the Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck incorporates the Earthmother, the evil figure with the ul timately good heart, and the haven versus hell as archetypes to describes the characters and the situations in the novel that the migrants experiences on their tour through the enjoyable and mendacious times. Ma and Rose of Sharon for there nurturing and pity of others characterized the Earthmother. Not only the Joads, but also other migrants encountered the evil figure with the ultimately good heart. The Haven and the hell are both typic of the dwellings the migrants and the Joads went through. These are archetypes that are described in John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath in order to create a story of real life experiences during the feeling of the 1930s.