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Patriarchy And Materarchy In The Grapes Of Wrath

1639 Words7 Pages

The shift between patriarchy and matriarchy was prevalent throughout the Great Depression, and was a key theme within Stienbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath. In the early days of the depression it was common for the family to look to the older men, whether it be for life-changing or simple decisions. The hierarchy of the patriarchal system usually left the women and their opinions near or on the bottom of this ladder. This was a vast difference between the two systems and patriarchy left the women dependent on the men, and many lost their independence. However, many families realized that a patriarchal society was not going to ensure their survival until the end of these tough times, and so they turned to their mothers and women of the family. …show more content…

“As the older men sink into ineffectiveness and despondency, family authority shifts to Ma Joad” (Motley, 9). Ma restored the matriarchy system and its values within the family and their community of migrant families. She knows that keeping the family together throughout the migration is crucial if they want a chance at living the lives that they wish for. Without Ma the household would crumble as she is the glue that holds them together as one. “She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever really deeply wavered or despaired the family would, the family will to function would be gone” (Steinbeck, 100). All of the family members know that Ma’s role in their family is vital to them being able to survive on their journey to California. As the group continues to move farther and farther away from the place that they call home, Ma gains more and more influence within the Joad family. Ma does not have the need to rule over everyone but she is forced into the role of making important decisions, as she is the only one able to to focus on the family’s best interests at that moment. (Keane, 42). Without Ma’s shift into authority the family would not survive, and she is aware of this so she steps up and provides for the …show more content…

Ma Joad guides Rose of Sharon throughout the novel, and later learns how to carry on what Ma Joad lives by. In the final scene of, The Grapes of Wrath, Rose of Sharon provides her milk to a dying man, even though she is going through the loss of her stillborn baby. Steinbeck makes it clear that this scene proves that Rose of Sharon is ready to flourish as the matriarch of the family and carry on what Ma believed in (Bhattarai, 49). Rose of Sharon finally embraces the role of the matriarch and understands the necessity of the new social organization. Tom Joad also grasps the idea of the matriarchy system, and shares it in his own way. Even though Tom does separate from the family, he is helping out the whole society by sharing the values of community and the significance of togetherness (Bharttarai, 41). He is helping everyone realize that it is better to be a unit then compete against one

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1639 Words | 7 Pages

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The tone of chapter 11 in John Steinbeck's, “The Grapes of Wrath,” is sympathetic, sad and hopeless. His word choice and syntax show how the sad houses were left to decay in the weather. His use of descriptive words paints a picture in the reader's mind. As each paragraph unfolds, new details come to life and adds to the imagery. While it may seem unimportant, this intercalary chapter shows how the effects of the great depression affected common households.

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736 Words | 3 Pages

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While an open form of dialogue emphasizes a connection and openness of situation it also lacks a specific aspect that can make it hard to understand. This lack of information is balanced with the Joad family whose interactions give more depth to Steinbeck’s representation of the Great Depression. The balance between a broader and specific description and portrayal of experiences create a more complete story that has a better chance of connecting with the

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550 Words | 3 Pages

In “The Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck makes Ma Joad the leader of the family to convey she is one main heroes of the novel. Ma Joad is a Catalyst Hero because she would sacrifice herself for any of the other family members. Throughout the novel, Ma does not change that much. She is always trying to keep the family from doing any foolish actions.

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953 Words | 4 Pages

In The Grapes Of Wrath, By John Steinbeck, the ending is very controversial in many ways, the most obvious ways though are fundamentally wrong, morally wrong, and just how depressing it is. Since the book came out in 1939, everyone has had a opinion on the ending to John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. Michael Harmon once said, “The ending can be seen two ways, as a tool for people to recognize the poverty and destruction at that time, or as a way to get more citizens to read the book”. It has a very controversial ending, that Steinbeck thought would name the last nail into the coffin, so to speak, on how bad the dust bowl and moving west really was. Ma and Rose of Sharon look at each other and they agree that Rose of Sharon should use her milk, that she doesn’t need because her baby was stillborn, and feed this old man.

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1351 Words | 6 Pages

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