Analysis of Ma Jodes Character in The Grapes Of Wrath :: essays research papers

For this essay on John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, I have chosen to do a character analysis. The character that I chose is Ma Jode. I have chosen Ma Jode, because I think she is one or the most important characters in the book. Ma Jode is the most important character because she is very strong-minded. Ma and the family know that she is the backbone of the family and she is very strong-minded, so if she shows any concern or weakness, the family may fall apart. If there is anything on Ma’s mind she must not show any sign of it around the family. Ma might be just as frightened with doubts and fear as the rest of the family, but she always maintains a strong figure or leader. In order for things to go Ma’s way, she must push for them. There are many situations were Ma has to push and put order back and continue strong leader as she is displayed as. An example of were Ma must stay strong is when the family agrees to let Tom and Casey stay behind, to fix the Wilson’s car, without her approval, and she thinks that that will break up the family. After that incident, she pretty much replaces Pa’s place as the head of the family. Another big situation is when she is threatening a police man with a pan, and she tells the family there leaving the government camp. Pa’s gets pissed because his power became lessened due to Ma’s leadership, Pa says â€Å"Seems like the times are changing.† Ma’s loves her family so much that she often sacrifices he own well being to help out the family in any way that she can possible do it. An example of her doing so, is when Grandma is dying. The family stops at the boarder of California and she fears that if the guard know the grandma is dead, they wont let them in, so she lies to the guard and tell them that grandma is very sick and she needs to see a doctor. Ma sits next to grandma for the rest of the night. That is a big sacrifice for the family, because she had to lay next to a dead person all night just to get her family through to California. During the hole journey for the Jode family Ma is the strongest, and upheld character of the book.