Post #8       (16-19)

Topic D


Initially the family was the center of all of the Joad lifestyle where following true musketeer motto one for all and all for one..... by chapter 19 though this belief is still central, the practice of it is very different. Chapter 16 shows us one incident where when the Wilson's truck breaks down Tom and all propose that the majority of the family go ahead whilst a few remain behind to repair the vehicle and catch up later. Ma responds with what borders on violent resistance picking up a jackhammer and threatening to beat anyone who tries to get her to move. To her the physical unity of the family is all important, an idea that she had held onto since the beginning of this venture. Pa and the rest of that party display a more realistic view where the good of the family provides unity and that it causes more hurt to maintain forced physical unity. By the end of this section Grandma has died, the Wilsons have split off, Noah has become a river man and Sharon & Connie have this dream of separating from the family unit and begin a new unit in town under different circumstances.