The Grapes of Wrath Essay -- Literary Analysis, John Steinbeck

What does family mean today? What did it mean 80 years past? The theme of family is explored throughout the novel The Grapes of Wrath, particularly in the character Ma Joad. In around ways her definition is similar to mine, in some ways it is different. John Steinbeck used her meaning of family to help contri barelye to his subject of the book, the saving power of family. Ma Joad pay offs numerous actions and says countless things that depict to the reader how she views and defines family. I agree with a select few of them. I do believe that the family unit should stick in concert, but only to an extent. Ma Joad recounts that Al-hes a-hankerin an a-jibbitin to go off on his own There aint no fambly now (ch.26, p.536). She is implying that due to the absence of Noah and Al wanting to leave, they incur lost their family ties. Without these ties they are no longer a family. Al so far says that he is goin out on his own purty soon. Fella can make his way lot easier if he aint got a fambly (ch. 26 p487). He is implying that he will no longer associate himself with the another(prenominal) Joads because they are weighing him down, passing him from his own desires. When travel of Sharon brings up that she and Connie dnt want to live in the county no more a low worry came on Mas face (Ch 16, p224). She did not give care the thought of her daughter, although married with a baby on the way would eer leave her and her husband. She even goes so far as to ask Rose of Sharon Aint you gonna stay with us- with the family (Ch16 p224). I would be devastated if angiotensin converting enzyme of my siblings mulish to up and leave without any intentions of returning. Sticking together is vital to keep a healthy family relationship. Although they do not live with us, I chink my siblings a... ... He then goes on to tell Tom about how a Hoovervilles is structured and cue him in on how he will be treated in the present and the future. This shows us that the people are on e group, one family. He is dropping settle hints to help Tom and the Joad family patronage the fact that they just became acquainted with each other. The entire migrant strength became one family.Family is a timeless importance in our mental and somatogenetic well being. In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck depicts this cultural characteristic in Ma Joad. Although the definition of family has changed, some characteristics still hold true. Family does not of necessity mean genetically similar. It can mean much more than that, such(prenominal) as a large group of people struggling together to survive. One single person can belong to many families, but essentially we are all one family, the human race.