The Grapes Of Wrath By Ma Joad - 1346 Words

Ma Joad: Keeping her family in line since 1939 In a time where women were considered inferior, The Grapes of Wrath uses secondary characters, specifically Ma Joad, to demonstrate a woman taking charge in a family setting, and the relationships of such a woman with others. Ma helps amplify the theme of feminism and women’s rights in different scenarios. Her relationships with Pa, her daughter Rose of Sharon, and even herself all convey different elements of an extraordinary leader and an amazing mother. Ma and Pa’s relationship throughout The Grapes of Wrath defies the idea of a normal couple in the era of the Dust Bowl. They are represented very much as equals through the conflicts their family has to face, contrary to other couples, where the husband is in charge. Ma takes the lead in many situations and Pa respects, and maybe even fears her opinions. Ma commandeers decision-making and often causes conflicts with her strong beliefs. This passage conveys the dynamic of their relationship very early on in the book: â€Å"Pa broke in, ‘But s’pose there just ain’t room?’ He had twisted his neck to look up at her, and he was ashamed. Her tone had made him ashamed. [...] She stopped, and Pa turned back, and his spirit was raw from the whipping.† (Steinbeck 132) Not only does Pa look to Ma for advice, but he also notices that she has a higher authority over the family than he does. It becomes obvious as the book goes on that he is not well equippe d to deal with the situations thatShow MoreRelatedThe Grapes Of Wrath By Ma Joad1401 Words   |  6 PagesMa Joad: Keeping her family in line since 1939 In a time where women were considered inferior, The Grapes of Wrath uses secondary characters, specifically Ma Joad, to demonstrate a woman taking charge in a family setting, and the relationships of such a woman with others. Ma helps amplify the theme of feminism and women’s rights in different scenarios. Her relationships with Pa, her daughter Rose of Sharon, and even herself all convey different elements of an extraordinary leader and an amazingRead MoreThe Grapes of Wrath: The Role of Ma Joad1252 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel, The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck presents the character Ma Joad who serves an important role as the rock that keeps the family together. The Joad family, apart from many families in Oklahoma, is forced to leave their homes in search of work and better opportunities; California not only leaves them in poverty but despair. But through it all Ma Joad is the leader of the family that exhibits selflessness in order to protect and secure her famil y. Ma Joad is the mother of the Joad familyRead More Unity of a Family Explored in The Grapes of Wrath Essay816 Words   |  4 PagesUnity of a Family Explored in The Grapes of Wrath nbsp; One would say that on a literal level The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is about the Joad familys journey to California during The Dust Bowl. However, it is also about the unity of a family and the concept of birth and death, both literal and abstract. Along with this, the idea of a family unit is explored through these births and deaths. nbsp; As can be seen in The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads are a very tight-knit family. YetRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s The Grapes Of Wrath And Jeannette Walls954 Words   |  4 Pageswho they will become. This is relevant in both books, John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath and Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle. Both the Joad and Walls families faced adversities but makes it through them stronger. The two families move from place to place and greatly struggle financially. The value of family and lessons that can be learned from them is prevalent in both novels. The attributes that enable both the Joad and Walls families to endure in the face of adversities are perseverance, faithRead MoreJohn Steinbeck s The Grapes Of Wrath And Jeannette Walls951 Words   |  4 Pageswho they will become. This is relevant in both books, John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath and Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle. Both the Joad and Walls families faced adversities but made it through t hem stronger. The two families move from place to place and greatly struggled financially. The value of family and lessons that can be learned from them is prevalent in both novels. The attributes that enabled both the Joad and Walls families to endure in the face of adversities are perseverance, faithRead MoreWeakness in Men in the Grapes of Wrath1216 Words   |  5 PagesWeakness in Men in The Grapes of Wrath Sexual inequality can be traced throughout history. Since centuries ago the male populations have been perceived as the ones with less weakness and flaws, they were almost even deemed as superior. Kings were often regarded as the chosen ones over the queens, additionally, in many locations including Greece and early America only male could vote. In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, male characters of the Joad family; Pa, a collapsed leader, Uncle JohnRead MoreWeakness in Men in the Grapes of Wrath1210 Words   |  5 PagesWeakness in Men in The Grapes of Wrath Sexual inequality can be traced throughout history. Since centuries ago the male populations have been perceived as the ones with less weakness and flaws, they were almost even deemed as superior. Kings were often regarded as the chosen ones over the queens, additionally, in many locations including Greece and early America only male could vote. In The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, male characters of the Joad family; Pa, a collapsed leader, Uncle JohnRead MoreThe Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Essay1408 Words   |  6 Pages The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck, in 1929. Steinbeck was born on February 27, 1902, in Salinas, California. Steinbeck did not like to narrate any of his novels in which he had no background information in. That is why he would often live the life of his characters before he wrote his novels or short stories. So in preparation for The Grapes of Wrath he went to Oklahoma, joined some migrants and rode with them to California. The Grapes of Wrath starts with Tom Joad, the main characterRead MoreThe Grapes Of Wrath By John Steinbeck1604 Words   |  7 Pagesdesperation and fright, thousands more stood up in the face of terror and took their place of power. In the case of John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, these everyday heroes were women. By intermingling themes of nurture and power, portrays a shift toward matriarchal structure in the Great Depression era. Steinbeck first introduces the power structures of the Joad family just before they set off on their journey to California. The squatter’s circle not only introduces the land as a source of powerRead MoreCharacter Analysis on Nunnally Johnson in The Grape of Wrath679 Words   |  3 PagesThe Grape of Wrath is one of the best known representations of the depression and the things that people went through. It focuses on the Joad family, a small family that is forced out of their home. Because of the large family they have with them, they have to head west in hopes of finding jobs. After a long difficult journey, the finally reach California after finding a bill looking for workers. They go through many different trials while the men try to find jobs, and the son, Tom Joad is haunted