Character changes throughout The Grapes of Wrath of Tom Joad

Tom Joad’s attitude changes throughout The Grapes of Wrath. These changes alter who Tom is. however not noticeabbly at first, but it is when you examine Tom closely is when you begin to see the alterations made.

In the beginning of The Grapes of Wrath, Tom is somewhat impatient with the people that cross his path. When Tom hitches a ride with the truck driver, the trucker keeps asking Tom questions. Finally Tom snaps at the driver with, “Like to know anything else. I’ll tell you…”(13). The trucker seems to be caught off gaurd and explains to Tom that he was not trying to be nosy and that he just needs to calm down. Tom is very rude with the truck driver, but only because he is very irritated with the never ending questions that have been thrown at him.

Tom’s attitude is also very laid back, care free, and lazy in the beginning of this novel. Most of his laziness come from the four years he spent in McAlester Penitentiary for manslaughter, but was paroled early. While in prision Tom knew that he always had three meals a day, and a place to lay his head to night. Tom never had too much of anthing to do to keep his stay because he would be there for a while. He later realizes that, “The souls of all humans are only small parts of a larger soul that encompasses everyone – the Oversoul), this was rge philisophy of ex-preacher Jim Casy (29).