Muley Graves' Refusal to Leave

Follows Muley Graves, a tenant who refuses to abandon his land, becoming a ghost-like figure haunting the empty countryside.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Muley's Defiance

The Holdout The Encounter Tom Joad and Jim Casy meet Muley Graves at the abandoned Joad farm. Muley is a tenant who refuses to leave. He lives like a wild animal, hiding from deputies. He is proud and stubborn. His Story Muley explains that his family has gone to California, but he cannot leave. He feels the land is part of him. He recalls his father's blood in the soil. His attachment is visceral. The Warning Muley warns Tom about the dangers of staying. He has become hunted and mean. He advises Tom to be careful. Muley's fate is a cautionary tale of what happens when a man refuses to adapt.

Living Like a Ghost

The Weasel The Survival Muley survives by trapping rabbits and stealing. He sleeps in a cave he dug as a child. He is always on the move, avoiding detection. His life is solitary and desperate. The Transformation Muley admits he has changed from a hunter to a hunted. He is mean like a weasel. He has lost his strength and become furtive. His humanity is eroding. The Symbol Muley represents the impossibility of staying. The land is no longer his. His refusal to leave is a form of suicide. He is a ghost of the past, haunting a world that has moved on.

Muley's Farewell

The Goodbye The Visit Muley comes to say goodbye to the Joads as they prepare to leave. He brings rabbits for food. He asks them to tell his family he is well, though he knows he will never join them. The Refusal Pa Joad offers to take Muley with them, but Muley refuses. He says he cannot go. His fate is sealed. He will remain on the land until he dies. The Legacy Muley's story is a reminder of the human cost of the Dust Bowl. He is a man broken by the loss of his home. His ghostly existence haunts the narrative, a symbol of the past that cannot be left behind.

early in the story, at the Joad farm

during the Joads' journey, offstage

when the Joads leave, early in the story