United They Stood: Unity in The Grapes of Wrath
In John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, characters such as Tom Joad, Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon are used to display the unity among people during the great depression and the dustbowl. The story mainly focuses on the Joad family as they move out west in an attempt to create a better life. After being forced out of their home and off their land, the Joad’s only option is to pack up the little they have left and drive to California, looking for work and supporting the family on the way. All of the characters have a hand in uniting people on the journey, but the most significant are Tom, Ma and Rose of Sharon. Ma’s personality is one thing that draws people close to her, and gives her the …show more content…
In particular, Ma offers a few dollars to the Wilsons, when her family needs it just as much. Ivy Wilson explains to Ma that she feels as if her and her husband are putting a burden on the Joads by traveling with them. They decide to stay back and survive for as long as they can and insist that the Joads go on without them. After Ma finally agrees to continue to California and leave the Wilsons behind, Pa offers them some money to get by. The Wilsons refuse the generous offer many times before, “Ma took the two bills from Pa’s hand. She folded them neatly and put them on the ground and placed the pork pan over them. ‘That’s where they’ll be,’ she said. ‘If you don’ get ‘em somebody else will” (149). Ma knew that the Wilsons needed the money, and that they would not take it unless it was left in the open. And even though the Joads needed every cent they had, Ma was still willing to sacrifice those few dollars, proving her loving selflessness. Secondly, Ma has hidden her emotions away for the sake of those around her in multiple situations. One being when Granma gets very sick and eventually passes away. As Granma continued to grow more and more ill, Ma tended to her every need and stayed by her side every second. When the Joads were …show more content…
To illustrate, when Rose of Sharon is first introduced, she tends to focus on all the negative events happening around her, worried sick that everything will alter the life of her unborn child. She refuses to do a large number of things due to the fact that she is soon to have a baby, including participate in the dance at one of the camps the Joads visit. During all of this, Ma stays and sits with her, “Ma and Rose of Sharon sat on a bench and watched. And as each boy asked Rose of Sharon as a partner, Ma said, ‘No, she ain’t well” (233). Rose of Sharon complained about the things she was unable to do for long periods of time, only thinking about herself and her unborn baby. She continues to do so for a large part of the story, until she is brought to the realization that the world does not revolve around her by Ma. Later, Ma pierces Rose of Sharon’s ears as a symbol of her passing into womanhood. Ma does this to not only ease Rose of Sharon’s nerves, but also to make her feel like she is really an adult, and that she is capable of raising a child without her husband. Rose of Sharon is hesitant to go along with Ma, arguing, “It’ll hurt.’ ‘Hush!’ said Ma. ‘It’s all done.’ Rose of Sharon looked at her in wonder. Ma clipped the needles off and pulled one knot of each
In John Steinbeck’s novel, The Grapes of Wrath, characters such as Tom Joad, Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon are used to display the unity among people during the great depression and the dustbowl. The story mainly focuses on the Joad family as they move out west in an attempt to create a better life. After being forced out of their home and off their land, the Joad’s only option is to pack up the little they have left and drive to California, looking for work and supporting the family on the way. All of the characters have a hand in uniting people on the journey, but the most significant are Tom, Ma and Rose of Sharon. Ma’s personality is one thing that draws people close to her, and gives her the …show more content…
In particular, Ma offers a few dollars to the Wilsons, when her family needs it just as much. Ivy Wilson explains to Ma that she feels as if her and her husband are putting a burden on the Joads by traveling with them. They decide to stay back and survive for as long as they can and insist that the Joads go on without them. After Ma finally agrees to continue to California and leave the Wilsons behind, Pa offers them some money to get by. The Wilsons refuse the generous offer many times before, “Ma took the two bills from Pa’s hand. She folded them neatly and put them on the ground and placed the pork pan over them. ‘That’s where they’ll be,’ she said. ‘If you don’ get ‘em somebody else will” (149). Ma knew that the Wilsons needed the money, and that they would not take it unless it was left in the open. And even though the Joads needed every cent they had, Ma was still willing to sacrifice those few dollars, proving her loving selflessness. Secondly, Ma has hidden her emotions away for the sake of those around her in multiple situations. One being when Granma gets very sick and eventually passes away. As Granma continued to grow more and more ill, Ma tended to her every need and stayed by her side every second. When the Joads were …show more content…
To illustrate, when Rose of Sharon is first introduced, she tends to focus on all the negative events happening around her, worried sick that everything will alter the life of her unborn child. She refuses to do a large number of things due to the fact that she is soon to have a baby, including participate in the dance at one of the camps the Joads visit. During all of this, Ma stays and sits with her, “Ma and Rose of Sharon sat on a bench and watched. And as each boy asked Rose of Sharon as a partner, Ma said, ‘No, she ain’t well” (233). Rose of Sharon complained about the things she was unable to do for long periods of time, only thinking about herself and her unborn baby. She continues to do so for a large part of the story, until she is brought to the realization that the world does not revolve around her by Ma. Later, Ma pierces Rose of Sharon’s ears as a symbol of her passing into womanhood. Ma does this to not only ease Rose of Sharon’s nerves, but also to make her feel like she is really an adult, and that she is capable of raising a child without her husband. Rose of Sharon is hesitant to go along with Ma, arguing, “It’ll hurt.’ ‘Hush!’ said Ma. ‘It’s all done.’ Rose of Sharon looked at her in wonder. Ma clipped the needles off and pulled one knot of each