Quote 1
[Tom Joad:] "What the hell you want to lead 'em someplace for? Jus' lead 'em." (4.25)
Ma Joad seems to us to be a fantastic example of someone who can lead without knowing where she is leading her people. Do you believe that in order to be a leader you have to know where you headed, or do you think a leader has a different purpose?
Quote 2
[Tom Joad:] "Maybe all men got one big soul ever'body's a part of." (4.41)
Why do you think Tom Joad is so taken with Casy's belief in one giant human soul? What exactly does Casy mean by "one big soul?"
Quote 3
[Tom Joad:] "Oh, awright. You eat regular, an' get clean clothes, and there's places to take a bath. It's pretty nice some ways. Makes it hard not havin' no women […] They was a guy paroled," he said. "'Bout a month he's back for breakin' parole. A guy ast him why he bust this parole. 'Well, hell,' he says. 'They got no conveniences at my old man's place. Got no 'lectric lights, got no shower baths. There ain't no books, an' the food's lousy.'" (4.67)
Wow. Prison sounds glorious compared to the dismal places that the Joads must live. In fact, it almost seems like Weedpatch.
Quote 4
[Tom Joad:] "He says it makes him feel lonesome out there in the open havin' to think what to do next. So he stole a car an' come back." (4.67)
Freedom can make you lonely. Routine drives loneliness away.
Quote 5
"We was drunk," Joad said softly. "Drunk at a dance. I don' know how she started. An' then I felt that knife go in me, an' that sobered me up. Fust thing I see is Herb comin' for me again with his knife. They was this here shovel leanin' against the school house, so I grabbed it an' smacked 'im over the head. I never had nothing against Herb. He was a nice fella." (6.92)
It's interesting that we never really learn why Herb attacks Tom in the first place.
Quote 6
[Tom Joad:] "'Course you get goddamn good an' sick a-doin' the same thing day after day for four years. If you done somepin you was ashamed of, you might think about that. But, hell, if I seen Herb Turnbull comin' for me with a knife right now, I'd squash him down with a shovel again." (6.100)
In Tom's world, there are repercussions for bad behavior, even if he likes you. Tom's all about honor.