Lisbeth Sandry Quotes

"Got a live tumor…You be good. If you got sin on you – you better watch out for that there baby." She squatted down in front of Rose of Sharon. "They’s scandalous things goes on in this here camp," she said darkly. "Ever’ Sat’dy night they’s dancin’, an’ not only squar’ dancin’, neither. They’s some does clutch-an’-hug dancin’! I seen ’em."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 22. In the government migrant Weedpatch camp Mrs. Sandry comes upon the pregnant Rose of Sharon. Ironically, instead of congratulating the mother-to-be, this religious fanatic refers to her baby as a "live tumor" and warns her about the sinful dancing that goes on at the Saturday night dances. Sandry’s warning to the poor girl in this passage sounds more like a curse!

"The devil was jus’ a-struttin’ through this here camp…An’ don’ you think them sinners is puttin’ nothin’ over on God, neither. No, sir, He’s a-chalkin’ ’em up sin by sin, an’ He’s drawin’ His line an’ addin’ ’em up sin by sin. God’s a-watchin’, an’ I’m a-watchin’. He’s awready smoked two of ’em out."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 22. A self-declared "Jesus-lover" corners Rose of Sharon in the Weedpatch camp to warn her about the sinful ways of the people there, especially the dancing and play-acting. Sandry’s idea of religion ironically revolves around judgement of others, righteousness and the gospel of fear. This is the very perversion of religion and one that Jim Casy has turned his back on.

"I seen it. Girl a-carryin’ a little one, jes’ like you. An’ she play-acted, an’ she hug-danced. And" – the voice grew bleak and ominous – "she thinned out and she skinnied out, an’ – she dropped that baby, dead…Dead and bloody."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 22. Religious zealot Lisbeth Sandry turns the very purpose for which Christianity was founded on its head. She uses religion to frighten the living daylights out of the pregnant Rose of Sharon. She warns her of a girl who lost her baby by miscarriage because of sinful dancing and play-acting, activities meant for fun and relaxation. Steinbeck criticizes religion through the use of irony using the character of the crazy "Sin Lady." Jesus-lover Sandry offers the unfortunate Rose of Sharon hate instead of love, and judgement instead of understanding and compassion.

Her eyes blinded with tears. "But I done it," she cried. "I hug-danced. I didn’ tell her. I done it in Sallisaw. Me an’ Connie…She says I’ll drop the baby…She knowed two girls los’ their baby right in this here camp."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 22. An emotional Rose of Sharon is terrified that she will lose her baby. She has taken to heart the rantings of religious zealot Mrs. Sandry who claims that two camp girls have lost babies through sin. There is foreshadowing here of Rose of Sharon’s eventual stillbirth.

"Know what the preacher says? He says ‘They’s wicketness in that camp.’ He says, ‘The poor is tryin’ to be rich.’ He says, ‘They’s dancin’ an’ huggin’ when they should be wailin’ an’ moanin’ in sin.’"

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 22. Lisbeth Sandry, a religious fanatic, is quoting her preacher as she speaks to Ma Joad. Here religion is used to keep the poor in their place. The preacher argues that they are meant to stay in poverty and not escape their class. Here Steinbeck makes effective use of irony to ridicule self-styled Jesus-lovers who use religious for purposes it was never meant to be used.

Ma’s face was red. She stood up slowly and faced Mrs. Sandry. "Git!" she said. "Git out now, ‘fore I git to be a sinner a-tellin’ you where to go. Git to your wailin’ an’ moanin’."…Mrs. Sandry’s mouth dropped open. She stepped back. And then she became fierce…Ma stooped down and picked up a stick of wood. "Git!" she said coldly. "Don’ you never come back."

– John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 22. As angry Ma Joad confronts fundamentalist zealot Mrs. Sandry and threatens her with a piece of wood. Ma is being the protective mother after Sandry frightens Ma’s daughter Rose of Sharon with her religious fanaticism.
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