Tom Joad’s Unique Psychological Growth As An"Archetypal Hero" In The Grapes Of Wrath

John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, set in the Great Depression, describes the westward experience of the Joads and other migrant tenants. This novel follows the structure of the traditional Bildungsroman, but tries to subvert its model in order to show Tom’s unique psychological growth. From the aspect of structure, Tom’s journey to California conforms to Joseph Campbell’s "Archetypal Hero’s Journey of Quest" presented in A Hero with a Thousand Faces, whose sequence is "separation-initiation-return". This thesis dwells on the five big people-gatherings in the novel so as to reveal the growth of Tom’s knowledge and psyche.This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter is introduction, which mainly presents the theory of the study—American theology writer Joseph Campbell’s "Hero’s Journey", as well as the overseas and domestic research on the novel such as the criticism about its literary value, the theme of the relationship between the individual and society, the influence of Transcendentalism and Naturalism on Steinbeck, and the postmodern features etc.Chapter Two introduces the "Ordinary World" in which Tom was brought up: Oklahoma, where the first people-gathering takes place in a dance. It explores the process of Tom’s alienation from his family and community and his "call to adventure" as well as his "refusal of the call".Chapter Three gives an analysis of the Joads’ journey to California. This part explains the reasons for the family’s taking the journey, Tom’s "meeting with the mentors" and various types of oppressions, stressing that what Tom sees and learns from the journey to the west enriches his life experience and changes his life values.Chapter Four examines the Joads’arrival in California. First of all, this part depicts his individual protest in the second people-gathering in Hooverville. And then it analyzes the collective movements at Weedpatch and Hooper Ranch. It places special emphasis on the importance of family union and the sharing of food and jobs. At last, it exhibits Tom’s thoughts of Casy’s words in the earthen cave and the positive influence of his growth on the people around him.Chapter Five summarizes the education that Tom receives from life and restates that Tom’s conversion proves his unique psychological growth.