... thought is based upon three strands of 19th century American philosophy: the Emersonian concept of the Oversoul, the humanism and embracing of mass democracy idealized by Walt Whitman, and the pragmatism of Henry James. When the reader is first introduced to Jim Casy, he tells Tom that "the sperit ain't in the people much no more; and worse"n that, the sperit ain't in me no more, " but Casy goes off to ... spirit is and what it means to be holy. Upon his return, Casy has decided that sin and virtue are all part of the same thing- the Emersonian concept of the Oversoul. This states that ...

• Word Count: 1670
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School