More on Characters and T.O.

Seeing as how we don't have much time to wrap up this blog, I'll add a bit to the discussion of how various characters represent T.O., focusing on some seemingly secondary characters in the novel.

Firstly, we have the used car saleman. He appears primarily in the seventh chapter, and seems to be a representation of a capitalist of the type that would have been becoming prominent at the time Grapes of Wrath was written. He is concerned exclusively with his job, and does not think twice of exploiting others for his own profit. The impersonality of this character is increased by the fact that he thinks more about cars than other individuals. Evidently, this is not in line with the concept of T.O.. I believe however, that the car salesman is a demonstration of how not acting for a greater good, separates one from the unity of the oversoul, and brings misery. We must ask ourselves, is the salesman contented in any way? He comes off as being quite stressed and isolated. His concern with material wealth has separated him from his fellow man. In a way this is characteristic of mankind's fall from the Golden Age into an era dominated by a damned desire of having.

At the other end of the spectrum is Mae waitress, who has her moment in the sun in chapter 15.
She expresses concern for others, particularly the downtrodden families heading to California. Although she is to a certain degree concerned with profitability (she will after all have to exist in the increasingly capitalist/materialist world), she ultimately is a benefactor to the less fortunate, selling them bread and candy for much less than its actual value. We also see that she is quite content in the company of those who enter her shop, and even looks forward to having people come in. This is obviously a character wo is very much in line with the idea of being part of an oversoul, and has achieved a state of grace because of it.

Ultimately, I think that these characters make a primarily social commentary. They illustrate how modern society can isolate one from the oversoul, and how this generally leads to stress and unhappiness. I'll try to get at least one more post up before the day is out.

P.S.: Shall we set a deadline for posting? If so, what time should it be?