What does family mean today? What did it mean 80 years ago? The theme of family is explored throughout the novel The Grapes of Wrath, particularly in the character Ma Joad. In some ways her definition is similar to mine, in some ways it is different. John Steinbeck used her meaning of family to help contribute to his message of the book, the saving power of family.
Ma Joad makes numerous actions and says countless things that depict to the reader how she views and defines family. I agree with a select few of them. I do believe that the family unit should stick together, but only to an extent. Ma Joad recounts that “Al-he’s a-hankerin’ an’ a-jibbitin’ to go off on his own… There ain’t no fambly now” (ch.26, p.536). She is implying that due to the absence of Noah and Al wanting to leave, they have lost their family ties. Without these ties they are no longer a family. Al even says that he is “goin’ out on [his] own purty soon. Fella can make his way lot easier if he ain’t got a fambly” (ch. 26 p487). He is implying that he will no longer associate himself with the other Joads because they are weighing him down, keeping him from his own desires. When Rose of Sharon brings up that she “and Connie dn’t want to live in the county no more… a little worry came on Ma’s face” (Ch 16, p224). She did not like the thought of her daughter, although married with a baby on the way would ever leave her and her husband. She even goes so far as to ask Rose of Sharon “Ain’t you gonna stay with us- with the family” (Ch16 p224). I would be devastated if one of my siblings decided to up and leave without any intentions of returning. Sticking together is vital to keep a healthy family relationship. Although they do not live with us, I see my siblings a...
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... He then goes on to tell Tom about how a Hoovervilles is structured and cue him in on how he will be treated in the present and the future. This shows us that the people are one group, one family. He is dropping settle hints to help Tom and the Joad family despite the fact that they just became acquainted with each other. The entire migrant force became one family.
Family is a timeless importance in our mental and physical well being. In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck depicts this cultural characteristic in Ma Joad. Although the definition of family has changed, some characteristics still hold true. Family does not necessarily mean genetically similar. It can mean much more than that, such as a large group of people struggling together to survive. One single person can belong to many families, but essentially we are all one family, the human race.
In conclusion the Grapes of Wrath is a literary masterpiece that portrays the struggles of man as he overcomes the adversity of homelessness, death, and the wrath of prejudice. Steinbeck fully explores each faucet coherently within the boundaries of the Joad family’s trials and
California in search for a brighter, economic future. The name Joad and the exodus to
Grapes of Wrath. In the beginning of the novel The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads are faced with the challenge of traveling Route 66 all the way to California. This is their solution to being tractored off their land and having no way to support the large family. This challenge is similar to the depression of 1929, when many people lost their jobs, homes, and their whole lives.
The tale of The Grapes of Wrath has many levels of profound themes and meanings to allow us as the reader to discover the true nature of human existence. The author's main theme and doctrine of this story is that of survival through unity. While seeming hopeful at times, this book is more severe, blunt, and cold in its portrayl of the human spirit. Steinbeck's unique style of writing forms timeless and classic themes that can be experienced on different fronts by unique peoples and cultures of all generations.
The Joads truly experience hard time that test their character, their dignity and their strength. From people, companies and various other situations that exploit them, figure head that abuse their authority and mother nature. They are tested in various ways that in the end leaves them stronger. This book shows just how much a strong family who sticks together can endure and still manage to stay together and increase the strength and their dignity. The Joads completely defy corruption, authority, and Mother Nature herself.
The ending of The Grapes of Wrath maintains its historical accuracy by enforcing the idea of the women being the force that holds the family together. From even the beginning of this text we can see that Ma Joad is an incredibly strong ch...
Because of the devastating disaster of the dust bowl, the Joad family was forced to leave their long-time home and find work and a new life elsewhere. They, like many other families, moved to California. "The land of milk and honey". The people in the dust bowl imagined California as a haven of jobs where they would have a nice little white house and as much fruit as they could eat. This dream was far from the reality the migrant farmers faced once in California. The dreams, hopes, and expectations the Joads had of California were crushed by the reality of the actual situation in this land of hate and prejudice.
Joads were the main family in John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, a book which
Being united in a group provides people the intrepidity to accomplish tasks they would not be able to as individuals. The cohesion of the Joad family is first witnessed when the novel’s protagonist, Tom Joad, returns from prison to be reunited with his family. After spending four years in prison, Tom Joad experiences his very first meal with his family where Jim Casy, a former preacher, says grace over breakfast where he emphasizes the importance of unity, “But when they’re all workin’ together, not one fella for another fella, but one fella kind of harnessed to the whole shebang—that’s right, that’s holy” (Steinbeck 81). This quote foreshadows many of the upcoming events that are bound to happen as Casy and...
Have you ever stopped and thought about what everybody in the world has in common? Family is a very common thing. It could just be a group of people that you care about and love or it could just be a person. Family is always together and family never falls apart. Family is that one group that you love and worry about and it can be that one person. In the book The Outsiders by S.E Hinton family is a very important thing. Family is the best blessing to have. The theme S.E Hinton talks about is family always sticks together.
Tom Joad is an ex-convict that was only into his own self-interest and lived by a mantra of live your life day by day and not concerned with the future, to becoming a man who thinks about the future and someone with morals and an obligation to help others. Ma Joad is a typical woman of the early 1900’s whose main role was a mother only with a role of caring and nurturing. Later in the novel, she becomes an important figure for the family and is responsible for making decisions in keeping the family together and emphasizes the importance of unity. Another important transition in the book is the family starting off as a single close knit unit to depending on other families to survive. This common interest and struggle bonded the community of individual families to a single one. Steinbeck wrote this novel very well, by having great character dynamics and development that displays the characters strengths and also their
In the Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses intercalary chapters to provide background for the various themes of the novel, as well to set the tone of the novel".
When the word “family” is discussed, most people think of mothers, fathers, and other siblings. Some people think of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and even cousins and more on the pedigree tree. Without family in people's lives, they would not be the same people that they grew up to be today and in the future. When people hear the word family they think about, the ones who will help them in any way they can whether it’s money, support, advice, or anything to help them succeed in life. Family will forever be the backbone of support.
"Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” This remarkable quote by Michel J. Fox should be the definition of family. Family is everything, they are our motivation, the ones that will love us when others don’t, and are the ones who stick to each other as gum when times get tough. Families have the most robust connections alive. These ties are so solid, and deeply intact that they can do everything and anything. These links allow a family to influence, shape, impact, and change one’s life. The intimacy within the family sphere, shape all who are inside it, this cannot be changed, and well anything that comes from within the family cannot be changed. The family itself can control and change our views on society, influence how we view the family unit, and yet most of all impact our everyday choices. The family’s capacity of guidance can make such an abundant shift that can only be felt, and barely visible unless seen through strained eyes, that makes this connection even more inexplicable than love.
Everyone seems to define family differently, however, the significance of family is the same. For you, family means everything. You can always count on your parents and siblings for help and love. Family is very valuable and important to you and should never be taken for granted. No one can deny that family is the foundation of our generation. A family is where we all start our life journey and helps us grow to be successful throughout our lives.