Sarah Lee
Professor Lundberg
English 122
12 April 2017
“Changes in Life”
Life is a road of transitions. Part of transitioning is evolving as human beings for better or for worse. John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath tells the journey of the Joads family to California and the struggles that come their way. The story takes place during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma when many farm laborers like Joads family were forced to leave their home to travel to new places in search for new jobs, new homes and a new lives. As the Joads’ expedition proceeds some characters mature, some stay the same, and some lose their identity. The first example that develops though this journey is Tom Joad, who generally is a good person and proceeds to become selfless …show more content…
Ma is the mother of the family and the wife of Pa Joad in the story, but further down the story she takes on the role as the head of the household. She has always been providing the family with food, shelter, guidance and decision-making. An earlier sign that Ma is in charge is when Tom asks her which items to keep and which to forever lose as they get ready to head out to California (Steinbeck, 147). Usually the individuals who take charge in decision-making are men, especially in the past when gender roles were fixed-in as men were suppose to be in charge and women were suppose to follow. However, Tom asking Ma means that he sees her as the leader and accepts her authority. Also, the time when Jim asks Tom, Grampa and Ma if he could come along in their expedition, “Ma look[s] to Tom to speak, because he [is] a man, but Tom did not speak. She let[s] him have the chance that [it is] his right”, but instead, she replies to Jim that it will be great for him to come, but have to wait for the men to discuss about it (Steinbeck, 127). This demonstrates that Ma is aware of gender role that is played when making decisions and when choosing a leader is involved; however, Tom and Grampa as the male figure did not do anything and it was Ma who steps in and decides what to say. She is already showing a sign of a “male” quality than the actual men in her family. Ma’s character grows stronger as she faces many hardships such as losing her home, …show more content…
Before the journey, Pa shows authority and holds his position as the head of the household. The reason that Pa is able to show much more confidence in his decisions and his role as the leader is because of the farm that enables him to provide for the family; part of his self identity was the farm. However, as the bank takes away the farm, it also takes away Pa’s identity that he has created his whole life. An event when Al Joad pull over the car and notices a broken part, the men in the family decide to split up the family and that makes Ma and Pa gets into an argument.
Professor Lundberg
English 122
12 April 2017
“Changes in Life”
Life is a road of transitions. Part of transitioning is evolving as human beings for better or for worse. John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath tells the journey of the Joads family to California and the struggles that come their way. The story takes place during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma when many farm laborers like Joads family were forced to leave their home to travel to new places in search for new jobs, new homes and a new lives. As the Joads’ expedition proceeds some characters mature, some stay the same, and some lose their identity. The first example that develops though this journey is Tom Joad, who generally is a good person and proceeds to become selfless …show more content…
Ma is the mother of the family and the wife of Pa Joad in the story, but further down the story she takes on the role as the head of the household. She has always been providing the family with food, shelter, guidance and decision-making. An earlier sign that Ma is in charge is when Tom asks her which items to keep and which to forever lose as they get ready to head out to California (Steinbeck, 147). Usually the individuals who take charge in decision-making are men, especially in the past when gender roles were fixed-in as men were suppose to be in charge and women were suppose to follow. However, Tom asking Ma means that he sees her as the leader and accepts her authority. Also, the time when Jim asks Tom, Grampa and Ma if he could come along in their expedition, “Ma look[s] to Tom to speak, because he [is] a man, but Tom did not speak. She let[s] him have the chance that [it is] his right”, but instead, she replies to Jim that it will be great for him to come, but have to wait for the men to discuss about it (Steinbeck, 127). This demonstrates that Ma is aware of gender role that is played when making decisions and when choosing a leader is involved; however, Tom and Grampa as the male figure did not do anything and it was Ma who steps in and decides what to say. She is already showing a sign of a “male” quality than the actual men in her family. Ma’s character grows stronger as she faces many hardships such as losing her home, …show more content…
Before the journey, Pa shows authority and holds his position as the head of the household. The reason that Pa is able to show much more confidence in his decisions and his role as the leader is because of the farm that enables him to provide for the family; part of his self identity was the farm. However, as the bank takes away the farm, it also takes away Pa’s identity that he has created his whole life. An event when Al Joad pull over the car and notices a broken part, the men in the family decide to split up the family and that makes Ma and Pa gets into an argument.