Tom Joad Jr.

[Aaron]

I'm curious as to what people think; upon completing the novel, what happened to Tom in your minds?

He remains unaccounted for at the end.

I like to think (to add to how depressing the book actually is) that he could have drowned in his hiding hole, but I know he's much too resourceful for that. In a quite boring fashion, I think he is more likely to have got up and been driven to move away from the family due to the weather. He mentioned being a burden and disappearing a number of times SO I think he could have used this to get away, which he thinks would benefit the 'fambly' in the long run.

Anyway, discuss?

[Walter]

Hmmm. It's been a while since I read "The Grapes" but I seem to recall something about him becoming and advocate/activist for the Oakies/farmers.

[Aaron]

Yeah, see that makes sense as he saw Casy die. So he'd want to do something about that treatment of his people.

[Nick]

I imagine Tom becoming an activist and getting killed just like the preacher did. When you put together his new found purpose and his hot temper, I think his future is set in stone.