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Character Analysis Of Ma Joad In The Grapes Of Wrath

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The Grapes of Wrath is a novel about a family living in Oklahoma Dust Bowl during the era of the Great Depression. They are driven off their land and decided to travel to California in search of jobs, land, and a better life. However California was not what they excepted it to be. Ma Joad is the most resilient and strongest character in the story. In the novel, the narrator describes Ma as the backbone of the family and a really strong person. Ma is described as “the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken.” and has also “practiced denying [hurt or fear] in herself.” The narrator says “she seems to know that if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever really deeply wavered or despaired the family would fall, the …show more content…

There were two parts in the novel that showed Ma as a strong woman who was not scared to fight back. One part was when the cop asked Ma and her family to leave, she wanted to fight back because the cop called them “Okies” and she tells Tom “maybe I oughta ast you that, cause I nearly hit 'im with a skillet.” The other part was when the religious fanatic Mrs. Sandry inveighed Rose of Sharon , Ma advanced on her and told her to go away. She tells Jim Rawley, the camp manager, that “if she comes back, I might hit her. I ain't sure. I won't let her worry my girl no more.” Another thing she did was being with the dead body of Granma in the back of the truck all night when they were traveling to California. She told the family that “Granma's dead” and that she was dead “before [the cops] stopped [them] las' night.” Ma endured the pain of staying with the body because '[she] was afraid [they] wouldn' get acrost [the desert].” The other thing Ma had to endured was telling the dying Granma that “[they] couldn't he'p her,” and “the fambly had ta get acrost,” and “[they] couldn't stop in the desert,” and “there was the young ones- an' Rosasharn's baby.” One more thing that showed Ma was strong and resilient was when Ma had to let Tom go away. The narrator says that “her eyes were wet and burning, but she did not cry.” Towards the middle of the novel, Ma had

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A mother and son relationship is something that shows how strong a bond is with a mother and her first born son. In John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath," the relationship between Ma and Tom Joad is a central theme. As mother and son, they share a deep bond, and their relationship evolves throughout the novel. At the beginning of the story, Tom is more involved in the family's plans of travel but as we dig deeper in the novel Ma becomes more incharge of the family. Ma Joad is a strong and resilient character who serves as the emotional anchor for the family.

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The Grapes of Wrath is the story of the Joads, a family of farmers who, like many other families during the great depression, were forced from their land by landowners and banks. Throughout the story, the major theme that is seen consistently is discrimination. Tom Joad, the main character of the film, is released from jail on probation to find that his family is gone, and his land and home are completely vacant. Due to the drought and poor farming conditions in Oklahoma during the 1930’s, otherwise known as a region inside the “Dust Bowl”, the Joads only option was to head west to California which they were told was rich with opportunity and work. So, they travel across the nation on route 66, making several stops along the way, witnessing instances of both discrimination and generosity.

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The main protagonist of the novel, Tom Joad, is known in story as a man with no regret. Although he had murdered a man and spent many years in prison, he showed no regret as he rarely brought up his past. Instead, he worries about his current problems and the issues his family is facing. Although he seems certain in his actions he does exhibit inner moral conflict as he soon found himself learning that he can’t always act, such as when he is unable to get a job and support his family. This situation, taking place during the middle of the novel, forces him to learn to be able to reflect on his problems without taking action.

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Overcoming Oppression The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck and is a story of overcoming oppression. When the dust bowl runs the Joad family off of their land in Oklahoma they are forced to leave with what they can fit into their truck and the little bit of money they have. The book puts you in the shoes of someone taking an unwanted journey to somewhere they are not welcome. The Grapes of Wrath shows how everyone is part of a bigger community, how religious people are seen as gullible, and how socialism unifies communities. The theme of community is consistently shown all throughout their journey.

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Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin also known from her pseudonym George Sand, once said “charity degrades those who receive it and hardens those who dispense it.” Those who give to others solely believe they are helping for the greater good. While those receiving more or less don’t reciprocate the same gratitude. It comes from human nature to believe deep down to help others less fortunate than one. Generosity spreads to those in need creates gratitudes to those who dispense.

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She will never do what is best for herself, but what is best for everyone else. Ma Joad is also a Group Oriented Hero. Group Oriented Heroes tend to be a part of a group in the beginning, venture into a far and unknown land, and is then separated

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Ma Joad showed her characteristics through the quest to California for a better life and through references to her past. Ma Joad exemplifies the theme of human endurance in the Grapes of Wrath by guiding her family, by taking care of her family, and by being diligently hardworking. Firstly, Ma Joad exemplifies the theme of human endurance by guiding her family. “Tom, I hope things is all right

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(Steinbeck 144) Ma Joad displays the similarity between her and Virgin Mary through her strength and selflessness. At the time the Joads were crossing into California, she keeps quiet about Grandmas death and rides along with her dead body the whole night. This actions suggests that Ma thinks of the family as an unit that must always stick together, her sense of honesty since she tells Grandma directly that she can’t be helped, and her own appreciation of beauty, especially seen in her remarks about burying

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The Grapes of Wrath In this novel written by John Steinbeck, achieving “The American Dream” is the main goal for families of Oklahoma who are struggling. The book introduces you to the Joad family and their perspectives on how difficult it was to survive and remain positive throughout their journey to California. Tom and Ma Joad are the two main characters whose opinions and thoughts differ from one another because of their gender. Men and women tend to view things differently and this is witnessed when men are more arrogant, compared to rational women. Tom Joad is the most troubled character throughout the entire story.

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This is seen by the actions she takes to get to her goal, statements she makes towards her family members, and how she responds to her family when they are troubled. Mama has lived in her apartment for a long time with her family and is about to get enough money to change that. An example of Mama’s motivation to achieve her goal is shown when Ruth, her daughter-in-law and Mama are talking about what Mama would do with the insurance money. Mama states, “Been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime, if we use part of the insurance for a down payment and everybody kind of pitch in” (563). Mama is suggesting to Ruth of what could be a better future for her son and their family.

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John Steinbeck began writing the Grapes of Wrath in a time of Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. He describes the Joads from Oklahoma, who began to embark on a journey where they become exploited by migrant workers in California. A place which was to be thought as there promised land. A land that was supposed to give them new hope in such a dark place in their life facing

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