Women In The Grapes Of Wrath

Grapes of Wrath Long Research essay
One of the greatest historical fiction novels written, The Grapes of Wrath written by John Steinbeck, is not only vividly descriptive, but includes incredibly complex themes, allowing the reader to delve into the meaning endlessly. One of these themes discusses the liberation of women for men in the novel, a complex subject that Steinbeck envelopes in his story almost discreetly. The two main women in the novel that liberate them selves from men are Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon, neither liberation is extremely evident but both are complex.
Ma Joad is a wonderfully complex character in the Grapes of Wrath. In the very beginning of the novel Steinbeck states that she is a citadel, the center and last defense
Ma joad experienced liberation, in the case that she fills the role of Pa. It was never Ma Joads intention to take Pa Joads place in the family hierarchy, yet this is what happened when Pa could no longer fill his role. This was because Ma Joad cared for the wellness of others, all her goals were based on her family and wanting the best for them. On the other hand Pa Joads goals were very selfish and were very self-centered, based on proving his masculinity to his household and his community. Pa however failed in his attempts, with the car Ma Joad held the tools and worked, and Steinbeck wrote “Pa’s hands hung there limply”. That quote is a very major quote in the switching of Ma and Pa Joads roles, it states that his hands hung limply as if he was incapable and almost of no use. Throughout the novel, Ma is the one that tells the family to find work, she finds solutions, and not only does she feed her family, but she also tried to share what was left with other migrants in search of food. Even at the end of the novel Ma also proves to be able to bear the troubles and worries of her fellow family and migrants, when they come upon the old man in the barn dying, with his frantic
Connie says he will open a repair shop and buy a white house with a fence and an icebox and a car and a crib, all before the baby is born; a dream which most would say is hopelessly idealistic and detached from reality. Though their intentions are for their baby so that it may have a perfect life from the very moment it is born. Whenver ashe would be faced with difficulies, she would comfort herself by remembering her dreams and almost seemingly trying to lift the burden of reality. She does so when the sheriff threatens the roadside families to leave or be jailed. She tells Ma of Connie’s plans for California, which have nothing to do with the situation at that moment. This escape only proves to ultimately hurt Rose of Sharon and Connie; they learn that illusions don’t support a life when survival is the priority. Her idealistic dreams of a perfect life began to collapse when her husband Connie deserted her and the soon to be born baby. This meant she would no longer be able to find her comfort in her and Connies shared dreams, and would be forced to face reality. Yet, instead of concentrating on the Joad family crises, she once again goes back to worrying about her baby. She also goes back to her stubborn traits, when she refuses to dance at the Weedpatch Dance because it may be bad for her baby. She is almost a superficial person now, rather than