The Grapes of Wrath Part Two, Chapter Sixteen: A Hard Dose of Reality
SUMMARY:
Rosasharn tells her mother while they are traveling with the Wilson’s that she and Connie plan to move to town and depart from the group, soon after their car breaks down and the part they need will take days to get. Tom suggests they split up, but Ma Joad rebuffs this, and Tom, Casy, and Al fix the car while everyone else goes to a near camp. At the camp a man tells them that California is lie and his wife and daughter died out there from starvation.
“All we got is the family unbroken. Like a bunch of cows, when the lobos are ranging, stick all together.” (Steinbeck, 16).
The theme that shines brightest in chapter sixteen is survival through the amalgamation …show more content…
After realizing in order to repair the car it will take several days and a decent amount of their money, a buzzard casts a shadow over them as it flies by. Large black birds are considered bad omens in many cultures, including western culture. The buzzard is a symbol of the hardships to come, and the shadow that has fallen on their journey. This symbol furthers the theme of human powerlessness and resistance. Even though the situation feels hopeless and their journey has only just begun to have obstacles, the Joad family pulled together. Their resistance against troubles in present time is admirable. Even at their lowest points, they decide to press forward, and continue to California. When one of the men at the camp tells them there is no point in going to California, Casy reminds Pa that just because that was what happened to that man, doesn’t mean it will happen to them. ‘“Pa said, “S’pose he’s tellin’ the truth—that fella?’’ The preacher answered, “He’s tellin’ the truth, awright. The truth for him. He wasn’t makin’ nothin’ up.’’ “How about us?’’ Tom demanded. “Is that the truth for us?’’ “I don’ know,’’ said Casy. “I don’ know,’’ said Pa.”’(Steinbeck, 16). The buzzard has foreshadowed obstacles such of the man 's brutality honest evaluation of California. However, regardless of this powerlessness and hardship, they decide to continue onward, and try …show more content…
Ma Joad’s revolt against the decision to split up is not only thing that 's downright shocking, but Pa Joad 's reaction to it. “The whole group watched the revolt. They watched Pa, waiting for him to break into fury. They watched his lax hands to see the fists form. And Pa’s anger did not rise, and his hands hung limply at his sides. And in a moment the group knew that Ma had won. And Ma knew it too.” (Steinbeck, 16). Ma Joad swiftly took the leadership role away from Pa. “The eyes of the whole family shifted back to Ma. She was the power. She had taken control.” (Steinbeck, 16). Pa Joad 's role in this particular part of the novel is of a man who has conflicting feelings about his position in his family and his purpose in life. Without the structure of his home, the structure of his family is breaking down. Although he loves his wife, her reluctance to cooperate as his subordinate confuses him. He cannot beat her because after all, she is extremely valuable to the family unit and he secretly feels as if she may be better at surviving outside of their natural environment then him. This is why he did not beat her, but because of his reaction to her revolt, she now has taken the control and the patriarch role in the family. Pa Joad is extremely considerate and kind to the Wilson’s which shows his compassionate side in this chapter and the kind of person he is. It is definite character development. ‘Pa said slowly,
SUMMARY:
Rosasharn tells her mother while they are traveling with the Wilson’s that she and Connie plan to move to town and depart from the group, soon after their car breaks down and the part they need will take days to get. Tom suggests they split up, but Ma Joad rebuffs this, and Tom, Casy, and Al fix the car while everyone else goes to a near camp. At the camp a man tells them that California is lie and his wife and daughter died out there from starvation.
“All we got is the family unbroken. Like a bunch of cows, when the lobos are ranging, stick all together.” (Steinbeck, 16).
The theme that shines brightest in chapter sixteen is survival through the amalgamation …show more content…
After realizing in order to repair the car it will take several days and a decent amount of their money, a buzzard casts a shadow over them as it flies by. Large black birds are considered bad omens in many cultures, including western culture. The buzzard is a symbol of the hardships to come, and the shadow that has fallen on their journey. This symbol furthers the theme of human powerlessness and resistance. Even though the situation feels hopeless and their journey has only just begun to have obstacles, the Joad family pulled together. Their resistance against troubles in present time is admirable. Even at their lowest points, they decide to press forward, and continue to California. When one of the men at the camp tells them there is no point in going to California, Casy reminds Pa that just because that was what happened to that man, doesn’t mean it will happen to them. ‘“Pa said, “S’pose he’s tellin’ the truth—that fella?’’ The preacher answered, “He’s tellin’ the truth, awright. The truth for him. He wasn’t makin’ nothin’ up.’’ “How about us?’’ Tom demanded. “Is that the truth for us?’’ “I don’ know,’’ said Casy. “I don’ know,’’ said Pa.”’(Steinbeck, 16). The buzzard has foreshadowed obstacles such of the man 's brutality honest evaluation of California. However, regardless of this powerlessness and hardship, they decide to continue onward, and try …show more content…
Ma Joad’s revolt against the decision to split up is not only thing that 's downright shocking, but Pa Joad 's reaction to it. “The whole group watched the revolt. They watched Pa, waiting for him to break into fury. They watched his lax hands to see the fists form. And Pa’s anger did not rise, and his hands hung limply at his sides. And in a moment the group knew that Ma had won. And Ma knew it too.” (Steinbeck, 16). Ma Joad swiftly took the leadership role away from Pa. “The eyes of the whole family shifted back to Ma. She was the power. She had taken control.” (Steinbeck, 16). Pa Joad 's role in this particular part of the novel is of a man who has conflicting feelings about his position in his family and his purpose in life. Without the structure of his home, the structure of his family is breaking down. Although he loves his wife, her reluctance to cooperate as his subordinate confuses him. He cannot beat her because after all, she is extremely valuable to the family unit and he secretly feels as if she may be better at surviving outside of their natural environment then him. This is why he did not beat her, but because of his reaction to her revolt, she now has taken the control and the patriarch role in the family. Pa Joad is extremely considerate and kind to the Wilson’s which shows his compassionate side in this chapter and the kind of person he is. It is definite character development. ‘Pa said slowly,