Ma Joad
Extended Character Analysis
Ma Joad is the matriarch of the Joad family. She is described as heavyset, calm, and wise. Ma is the healer, arbiter, and nurturer of the family. As such, she keeps the family together through her calm nature and ability to find humor. She understands that if she wavers, the family will fall with her.
Ma Joad’s Leadership
Near the beginning of The Grapes of Wrath, Ma Joad is on equal footing with Pa Joad. They lead the family together, as Pa Joad is confident in his abilities to help and support the family. However, as the novel progresses and things become steadily worse for the family, Pa Joad becomes unable to provide and recedes from the role of patriarch. Because of this, Ma Joad is left to lead and make decisions for the family.
An example of Ma’s leadership can be seen when Ma Joad lies to the border agent and to the family about Granma. She claims Granma is very sick, but Granma had actually already died. So, Ma’s lie ensured that the family got through the border and the desert without complications. Despite the tragedy of the situation, Ma Joad took advantage of it and helped the whole family. Ma Joad makes many hard decisions, and in the face of strife, she rises up to be a successful and tenacious character.
Ma Joad as a Nurturer and Protector
Despite Ma Joad's leadership, Steinbeck still casts her character within traditional gender roles: she is the nurturer, caretaker, and protector of her children. She does not act as the leader because she wishes power and control; her main concern is to keep the family together, because the family is her way of understanding the world.
Ma not only works hard to ensure the family retains some semblance of normalcy, but she tends to care for everyone, not just her direct family members. Throughout the novel, Ma includes and helps the many families that the Joads come into contact with. For example, she takes in the Wainwright family after their daughter and her son Al marry, viewing them as her own family. Her actions promote a sense of community.
Expert Q&A
Steinbeck's use of literary elements in the passage to reveal Ma Joad's complexity and her contribution to the overall meaning of The Grapes of Wrath
In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses literary elements such as dialogue, inner thoughts, and descriptive imagery to reveal Ma Joad's complexity. Her resilience, nurturing nature, and moral strength are highlighted, demonstrating her role as the family's emotional anchor. This contributes to the novel's overall themes of unity, perseverance, and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
What is Ma Joad's favorite saying in The Grapes of Wrath?
Ma Joad's favorite saying in The Grapes of Wrath isn't explicitly repeated, but her guiding principle is to "keep the family together." This reflects her steadfast commitment to family unity amidst the hardships they face. Although she doesn't have a specific recurring quote, her actions consistently demonstrate her determination to hold the family together, even when it feels like she's failing by the novel's end.
Ma Joad's complex character and female identity significantly influence the plot, theme, and other characters in The Grapes of Wrath
Ma Joad's complex character and strong female identity significantly influence the plot, theme, and other characters in The Grapes of Wrath. As the family matriarch, she embodies resilience and unity, guiding her family through hardships. Her steadfastness and nurturing nature highlight themes of family and endurance, while her interactions with others emphasize the importance of compassion and solidarity in the face of adversity.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
