Why i want to be tom joad

For out production of "the Grapes Of Wrath" I would like to play Tom Joad, this is because i feel he is a character that I can empathise with yet at the same time I feel he is a complicated character and therefore feel that it will be a nice challenge to have the opportunity to portray him. I have read one of his monologues in the play and am considering using it for my NYT audition piece, for this reason being the character beforehand will mean i know the character well enough to perform the monologue better than if i had never played the character before, also i would know the character well enough to discuss him with confidence in my interview.