Tom Joad

E57046

Tom Joad is the central, morally driven migrant worker in John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath," symbolizing social justice and the struggles of the American Dust Bowl era.


Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional character
literary character
protagonist
appearsIn The Grapes of Wrath
appearsInGenre protest novel
appearsInMedium novel
associatedWithAuthor John Steinbeck
associatedWithTheme displacement
family
injustice
labor rights
poverty
basedInEvent Dust Bowl
basedInPeriod Great Depression
characterDevelopment grows from individual focus to collective consciousness
countryOfFictionalOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
createdBy John Steinbeck
familyName Joad
firstAppearance The Grapes of Wrath
fullName Tom Joad self-link
gender male
genreOfWork social realism
givenName Tom
hasAdaptation The Grapes of Wrath
surface form: The Grapes of Wrath (1940 film)
hasFamilyMember Jim Casy
Ma Joad
Pa Joad
hasSibling Al Joad
Rose of Sharon Joad
Ruthie Joad
Winfield Joad
languageOfWork English
literaryMovement Realism
surface form: American realism
literaryRole central character
moral center of the novel
moralAlignment social justice oriented
nationality American
notableQuote Wherever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there
occupation migrant worker
portrayedBy Henry Fonda
setting California, United States
surface form: California

Oklahoma
symbolizes collective responsibility
resistance to oppression
social justice
struggle of migrant workers

Referenced by (8)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Tom Joad fullName Tom Joad self-link
Ma Joad hasChild Tom Joad
Pa Joad hasChild Tom Joad
Jim Casy influences Tom Joad
Joad family member Tom Joad