Friday, May 8, 2020

Strengths In John Steinbecks The Grapes Of Wrath - 743 Words

Do the needs of an individual family or group supersede the needs of the many? In The Grapes of Wrath written by the John Steinbeck, the readers see the strength that is needed to be a mother when outside forces rip a family apart. Ma Joad is the living representation of strength given her unique role in the family. Ma took an almost patriarchal role in the family and demonstrated that she was unique among other characters due to her strength, love, and family power. One of Ma Joads most defining features is her overall mental strength. Throughout the story, her strength is shown time and time again as she tries to reach California with her family. An example of her strength is seen when the family looked in â€Å"terror at her strength†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦Not only does this show Ma’s love for Tom but it also shows the courage that it gives her. All in all, Ma used her love for her family to fuel her resolve to stick together as a family regardless of the cost. Many characters stood out during the story yet none ever broke the established family hierarchy except for Ma Joad. Ma did not completely break the family structure instead it was more akin to a momentary shift of power. The first time Ma demonstrates any form of power is during a meeting to see whether Jim Casy can go with the Joads to California. During said meeting, although Ma had no real power her â€Å"tone† was able to make Pa â€Å"ashamed† (Steinbeck 130). This on its did not show power instead it showed Ma’s influence on Pa when dealing with family affairs since her opinion was just as important. Later on in the story, Ma would take a more active role in family affairs. Not only did Ma become more active in order to keep the family together but she also took Pa’s power when she said: â€Å"I ain’t a-gonna go† which left Pa â€Å"amazed at the revolt† (Steinbeck 185). During this incident, Ma for the first time disobeyed not j ust Pa but the whole family and took command in order to keep the family from separating even a little. From this point forward Ma is essentially the Patriarch of the family taking over her husbands role as the head of the family. Thus itShow MoreRelated Comparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Grapes of Wrath968 Words   |  4 PagesComparing and Contrasting the Novel and Movie Version of The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck wrote the The Grapes of Wrath in 1939 to rouse its readers against those who were responsible for keeping the American people in poverty. The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of the Joad family, migrant farmers from Oklahoma traveling to California in search of an illusion of prosperity. 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Other themes are also central to each novel, the strength in unity and the influence of female Read MorePoetry In John Steinbecks The Grapes Of Wrath1463 Words   |  6 Pageshave. The words are fighting each other to get out (Steinbeck, John. phantascene.com/2014/0 2/john-steinbeck-what-he-taughtwriters.Web.7Oct.2013). The lyrical style of The Grapes of Wrath keeps the readers spell-bound from beginning to the end and lets the readers feel the vicinity of the have-nots. Steinbeck has a suitably elastic form and elevated style to express the far-reaching tragedy of the migrant drama. In The Grapes of Wrath he devised a contrapuntal structure, which alternates short lyrical

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