Tom Joad In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

As J.K. Rowling once said, “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” In Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the Joads utilize their collective skills as a family to neutralize the crippling discrimination and societal issues they face. Each member specifically donates effort to the journey to California and learns from what their predecessor teaches them, exemplifying how the unity of the family positively affects future generations. The roles that they play in their family determine the ways they resolve the problems they face. Being a unit during the journey aids every member in the family to grow into their rightful positions as either a teacher or a student, whether the conclusion of their story proves success or failure. Tom Joad, the oldest son in the Joad family, endures one of the largest transitions of self-enlightenment, changing from a from the beginning to the end of …show more content…
It is exceedingly difficult for a majority of people to get jobs in California, what was once the promised land for everyone turned out to be a goal harder to achieve than previously believed. Steinbeck writes, “They hate you ‘cause they’re scairt. They know a hungry fella gonna get food even if he got to take it. They know that fallow lan’s a sin an’ somebody’ gonna take it...You never been called ‘Okie’ yet” (Steinbeck 139). The dialogue in this text exemplifies the bias more successful workers have for migrants looking to improve their lives in California, especially those who come from Oklahoma. This unfavorable attitude against the workers bring even more difficulties for the Joad family as they adjust to their societal stance against more successful people. However, even in the face of adversity such as this, the Joad family utilizes their specific skills to push through these troubles and survive the prejudice and