Tom Joad

Tom is the principle protagonist of the novel, and he lives out its message. Early on in the work, he is firstly concerned with being with his family, and he refuses to focus on the future. As the novel progresses, Tom begins to be concerned with the sufferings of the migrants, and, spurred on by Casy, he looks forward to a future where his people no longer suffer. Tom absorbs the message Casy preaches, and his character is strong enough to act it out. He is angry when it is right, and he is calm when it is necessary. Where lesser men would hesitate, Tom acts to defend his people. When he is forced to leave his family, he explicitly decides to follow Casy’s message and unite the migrant workers against the oppressive owners in California.

Jim Casy

Jim Casy is a former preacher who joins...