re: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

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Steinbeck's writing of humanity as a collective organism, influenced by his work with Ed Rickett's in marine biology as well as his early socialist leanings (which he sort of abandoned later in life). Also called the "phalanx theory" in some of the literature.

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quote:

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It doesn't really matter... Tom lives on as part of the collective human organism.

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I guess. I read that part of the book probably three times because I was so disappointed he was going off. I felt it was just he was just ok dying and just trying to give his mom some comfort. But that is a better way to look at it. At least a more positive way, which is much needed.