What Do Grapes Symbolize?
Some common symbolic meanings for grapes include charity, wrath and abundance. Famously, these meanings are used in the Bible and the well-known song “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” They are also used in the book “The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck.
In the Bible, grapes are used as a symbol for altruism. Grapes are mentioned frequently as positive objects. Wine, by extension, is said to represent faith because it derives from grapes.
In “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” by Julia Ward Howe, God is said to be “trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.” In this case, the grapes symbolize anger that destroys evil.
“The Grapes of Wrath” by Steinbeck takes its title from that line in the song. In the book, Steinbeck references both the Bible and the song. In addition, he uses grapes as a symbol for abundance. This meaning is alluded to when Grampa mentions that he intends to sit in a tub full of grapes in California.
