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Essay / Analysis of The Grapes of Wrath - 1385
Dalloway and The Grapes of Wrath give messages about equality and human dignity. Woolf uses stream of consciousness in order to illustrate the inner thoughts and emotions of her characters, and this technique highlights Clarissa's constant feelings of conflict due to her choices between following tradition or finding independence, but the Woolf's stream of consciousness also illuminates the thoughts of Septimus who also yearns for independence from the stifling world around him. The presentation of Clarissa and Septimus as two sides of the same coin signifies the intuitive connection that all humans share, regardless of class. When Clarissa learns of Septimus' suicide, she recognizes that Septimus is like her, an empty person in the face of the oppressive nature of society, and understands his final act of rebellion: "Death was a challenge. Death was an attempt at communication… But this young man who had committed suicide – had he dived while holding his treasure? (Wool 134). Clarissa identifies with Septimus and considers his suicide an act of bravery as he seeks to protect his soul from the rigid and unfeeling arms of London society. Clarissa comes to understand the human spirit and its need for independence. Likewise, Steinbeck's cinematic narrative style promotes the characters' understanding of human dignity and the human spirit. Steinbeck's intervening chapters of general observations serve as a commentary on the mentality of migrant farmers..