Themes: Family, Community, and Perseverance
One of the major themes of The Grapes of Wrath is how familial and community support can help someone persevere in hard times. Steinbeck uses the Joad family’s travels and general suffering as a way to dramatize the need for family and community. The migrant laborers within the novel all face hardship, and many lose their families, friends, and homes. Despite this shared suffering, the migrant laborers are able to work together and become a strong community:
“In the evening a strange thing happened: the twenty families became one family, the children were the children of all. The loss of home became one loss, and the golden time in the West was one dream.”
Steinbeck reinforces this theme through the experiences of several characters: Jim Casy, Tom Joad, Ma, and Rosasharn all come to understand the need for building community and supporting others.
- Jim Casy advocates for and supports the community around him. Casy says that although the wilderness couldn’t sustain him spiritually, people could. His words and actions on the need for working together in order to persevere inspire other characters. His final actions result in his death, but his sacrifice helps others.
- Tom Joad is encouraged and inspired by Casy to actively help others rather than only take care of himself. By the end of the novel, Tom has witnessed Casy’s death, the migrant laborers’ efforts and struggles, and his own family’s suffering. Tom comes to understand Casy's musing on the shared nature of the soul and begins to see himself as part of a greater whole: “a fella ain’t got a soul of his own, but on’y a piece of a big one.” Tom leaves his family to go help his community of migrant workers, reassuring his mother by telling her that he is a part of everything.
- Ma Joad at first believes her family is the only important thing and strives to help them. However, as the novel progresses, she becomes a mother and caretaker nearly everyone she meets and befriends other families along their journey. Ma claims near the end of the novel, “Use ta be the fambly was fust. It ain’t so now. It’s anybody.” Ma comes to realize that working together with others and building a strong community is the only way to survive.
- Rosasharn comes to understand the value of family, community, and helping others when she saves a starving man by feeding him her breast milk. Having lost her baby Rosasharn does not allow the tragedy to stop her from saving another life. Throughout the majority of the novel, Rosasharn had been focused on only herself, her child, and her husband, Connie. Feeding the starving man at the end of novel not only shows a change in her character but also an emphasis on the importance of helping others who are in need. Despite having lost many things by the end of the novel, Rosasharn learns to see herself as a part of a greater community and family instead of as an individual.
With these characters, Steinbeck suggests that family and community are the driving forces for not only survival, but also for the human soul.
Expert Q&A
In "The Grapes of Wrath," what does Ma's speech reveal about the family after Tom leaves?
Ma's speech reveals her deep concern about the family's disintegration after Tom leaves. She acknowledges the loss of family unity, fearing that Tom's departure signifies the end of their familial bond. Despite her lament, Ma evolves into a dynamic character, understanding the necessity of Tom's departure and embracing a broader sense of family. Her encouragement to Rose of Sharon to help a dying man shows her growth in extending compassion beyond her immediate family.
What "code" develops in the camp in The Grapes of Wrath, and what are the punishments for breaking it?
The camp in The Grapes of Wrath develops a "code" of justice and care governed by the migrants themselves. This code emphasizes equality, sharing resources like water, and prohibits stealing. The camp operates democratically, with residents working for their keep to maintain dignity. Punishments for breaking the code include expulsion from the community or ostracism, reflecting the importance of community rules and mutual respect among the migrants.
How does the ending of John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath align with Fay Weldon's observation about happy endings involving "spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation"?
The British novelist Fay Weldon offers this observation about happy endings: "The writers, I do believe, who get the best and most lasting response from readers are the writers who offer a happy ending through moral development. By a happy ending, I do not mean mere fortunate events—a marriage or a last-minute rescue from death—but some kind of spiritual reassessment or moral reconciliation, even with the self, even at death."
The ending of The Grapes of Wrath aligns with Fay Weldon's observation on happy endings through moral development and spiritual reassessment. Tom Joad transforms into a spiritual hero, embodying a Christ-like figure in spirit, prioritizing others over himself. Rose of Sharon experiences a moral awakening, offering her milk to a starving man, symbolizing unconditional love. Ma's journey emphasizes resilience and spiritual adaptability, echoing the survival and perseverance of the Israelites. These elements showcase moral reconciliation and spiritual reassessment.
In Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, how does the Joad family's concept of family evolve, particularly for Ma and Rose of Sharon?
In Steinbeck's novel, the Joad family's concept of family evolves significantly. Ma Joad's belief in family unity is tested as they face hardships, leading her to accept that survival requires sacrifice. Rose of Sharon transforms from a self-centered young bride to a selfless individual, especially after losing her child. Her final act of breastfeeding a starving man symbolizes her growth and the broader human connection beyond her immediate family, highlighting the necessity of change for survival.
Examples and quotes depicting family strength and dynamics in The Grapes of Wrath
Examples and quotes that depict family strength and dynamics in The Grapes of Wrath include Ma Joad's determination to keep the family together, such as when she says, "Why, Tom—us people will go on livin' when all them people is gone. We're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out." The Joad family's resilience and unity are consistently highlighted throughout the novel.
The evolution and significance of "family" in The Grapes of Wrath
In The Grapes of Wrath, the concept of family evolves from a nuclear unit to a broader communal sense. Initially, the Joads focus on their immediate family but, over time, they come to see other migrant families as part of their extended family. This shift underscores the novel's theme of solidarity and collective struggle against social and economic hardships.
The relationship between the Joads and the Wilsons in "The Grapes of Wrath" reveals their mutual support and the Joads' character
The relationship between the Joads and the Wilsons in The Grapes of Wrath demonstrates mutual support and highlights the Joads' character. They help each other during their journey, sharing resources and providing emotional support. This bond exemplifies the themes of community and solidarity during the hardships of the Great Depression.
How did the unity and strength in numbers contribute to the power of Dust Bowl migrants?
The unity and strength in numbers of Dust Bowl migrants significantly bolstered their power by fostering a collective identity and shared purpose. This "phalanx" concept, inspired by military formations, allowed them to fight for survival and better conditions. As they faced common grievances and hardships, their solidarity enabled them to support each other and organize against oppressive forces, much like labor unions, thereby enhancing their ability to endure and effect change.
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.
