In this section, the stakes of the conflict established
in previous chapters are made clear: the contest between rich and
poor, between landowners and migrants, is one that will—and perhaps
must—be fought to the death. As the end of Chapter 25 states,
the people’s anger is ripening, “growing heavy for the vintage.”
In other words, their anger must soon be released in a burst of
violence. When that happens, lives will be lost. Casy’s death stands
as a sober reminder of the price that must be paid for equality.
