The 1930’s were bleak years in American history, arguably some of the worst. Efforts made to improve rights for women in the 1920’s were abandoned with the onslaught of hardship brought by the depression. Steinbeck challenges traditional gender roles in his novel, The Grapes of Wrath, by portraying male characters as impulsive or weak while introducing Ma Joad as the clear-headed matriarch who holds the family together. In the beginning of the novel, Ma is a silent supporter of the men of the family, as the novel progresses Steinbeck emphasizes the flaws in male characters, ultimately Ma evolves into the primary force holding the family together and making decisions for their survival.
As the novel begins, men hold power in family decision …show more content…
While the Joad family is making a particularly treacherous drive across the desert, Granma dies in the back of the car where she’d been laying with Ma. “The family looked at Ma with a little terror at her strength. Tom said, ‘Jesus Christ! You layin’ there with her all night long!’ ‘The fambly hadda get acrost,’ Ma said miserably.” (228) Ma Joad knew that if she left Granma’s side the family would know she had died, and if they knew, they would have stopped. She understood that that could mean death for the rest of them and sacrificed to be sure they would continue. Putting the safety of the family before her own personal comfort and even sanity, Ma clearly has the best interests of the entire family in mind. She proves that she is able to see situations logically and keep emotions out when it is necessary for survival, she is a clear-headed and logical decision-maker. Later in the book, Ma makes additional hard decisions when none of the men in the family will. At another point in the novel, Ma undermines Pa’s authority to make the decision that she knows is best for the family. When the council of men decide that the family should split up and meet eventually along the road Ma immediately protests. “‘I tell you, you got to go. We made up or mind.’ And now Ma’s mouth set hard. She said softly, ‘On’y way …show more content…
Shortly after arriving in California Connie abandons his young, pregnant, wife Rose of Sharon. He has talked incessantly about his plans to get a job, pay for an education and get a job on the radio or otherwise and buy a home with Rosasharn and their child. Ultimately he does none of this, instead leaving his family and responsibilities and Rosasharn to raise their child alone. “‘Well, he ain’t no good,’ Pa insisted. ‘All the time a-sayin’ what he’s a-gonna do. Never doin’ nothin’,” (227). Connie is portrayed as flighty. He sees that California is not the utopia of his dreams and that he will not be able to make good on all his promises and leaves immediately. He does not have the strong family values that are important in this book, especially in Ma’s character. Another male character that is highly flawed is Muley Graves who stays behind on his farm instead of travelling with his family to California. Like Connie he is selfish and does not value family and loyalty in the way that other female characters do. While goodhearted and hardworking, Pa is not a strong character or a good decision maker. “Ever’ night you jus’ eat, an’ then you get wanderin’ away. Can’t bear to talk it out. Well you got to.” Ma knows that if the family stays in the comfort of the government camp for
As the novel begins, men hold power in family decision …show more content…
While the Joad family is making a particularly treacherous drive across the desert, Granma dies in the back of the car where she’d been laying with Ma. “The family looked at Ma with a little terror at her strength. Tom said, ‘Jesus Christ! You layin’ there with her all night long!’ ‘The fambly hadda get acrost,’ Ma said miserably.” (228) Ma Joad knew that if she left Granma’s side the family would know she had died, and if they knew, they would have stopped. She understood that that could mean death for the rest of them and sacrificed to be sure they would continue. Putting the safety of the family before her own personal comfort and even sanity, Ma clearly has the best interests of the entire family in mind. She proves that she is able to see situations logically and keep emotions out when it is necessary for survival, she is a clear-headed and logical decision-maker. Later in the book, Ma makes additional hard decisions when none of the men in the family will. At another point in the novel, Ma undermines Pa’s authority to make the decision that she knows is best for the family. When the council of men decide that the family should split up and meet eventually along the road Ma immediately protests. “‘I tell you, you got to go. We made up or mind.’ And now Ma’s mouth set hard. She said softly, ‘On’y way …show more content…
Shortly after arriving in California Connie abandons his young, pregnant, wife Rose of Sharon. He has talked incessantly about his plans to get a job, pay for an education and get a job on the radio or otherwise and buy a home with Rosasharn and their child. Ultimately he does none of this, instead leaving his family and responsibilities and Rosasharn to raise their child alone. “‘Well, he ain’t no good,’ Pa insisted. ‘All the time a-sayin’ what he’s a-gonna do. Never doin’ nothin’,” (227). Connie is portrayed as flighty. He sees that California is not the utopia of his dreams and that he will not be able to make good on all his promises and leaves immediately. He does not have the strong family values that are important in this book, especially in Ma’s character. Another male character that is highly flawed is Muley Graves who stays behind on his farm instead of travelling with his family to California. Like Connie he is selfish and does not value family and loyalty in the way that other female characters do. While goodhearted and hardworking, Pa is not a strong character or a good decision maker. “Ever’ night you jus’ eat, an’ then you get wanderin’ away. Can’t bear to talk it out. Well you got to.” Ma knows that if the family stays in the comfort of the government camp for