At the beginning of The Grapes of Wrath, we realize that “the women came out of the houses to stand beside their men --- to feel whether this time the men would break.” (3). The women stood by their men, they knew that if one in the family was to fall, all would fall. They seem have hope that becomes the foundation of the family which becomes much more noticeable when we finally meet Ma. She provides the character, as well as the readers, with a sense of care and comfort only a mother can provide.
We realize just how important family was to them, especially after Ma refused to separate them in the past chapters. I honestly feel like they rely so heavily on Ma that she will end up dying and they will not make it. She is the foundation of that family without her they would not all be together, more than likely they probably would not all have the little bit of sanity they have. She is certainly important and it does show that she likes to keep her family together. Unfortunately in life you can not always have what you want, so I believe something devastating is about to happen.
Steinbeck provides us with many themes that
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In the first chapter, the families show that they stand together as one. Later on in chapter one, the family unit is brought to our attention that if one fails, they all fail.The foundation of the family is the key in this novel. We notice later on in the novel that Ma is the heart and soul of the Joad family. Therefore, she is presented as the foundation of the family. “And since old Tom and the children could not know hurt or fear unless she acknowledged hurt and fear, she had protection denying them in herself” (74). She is the comfort Steinbeck provides throughout the novel. Therefore, the family unit shows much importance in this novel. It provides the readers with hope that everything will stick together and fall into place much like the family