Family ties in the grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck
Family Ties: John Steinbecks The Grapes Of Wrath In John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the most important elements are family structure and the family’s connection to the land. The Joad family must stay together for support and happiness. ... Steinbeck exemplifies the family support primarily through the character of Ma Joad. She holds the family together. In Steinbeck’s description of Ma Joad, he states, “She seemed to know, to accept, to welcome her position, the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken. ... She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever really deeply wavered or despaired the family would fall, the family will to function would be gone” (100).