The question about the hero of the book is much harder to answer for Grapes of Wrath opposed to Old Man and the Sea. The main character is Tom, however Tom is a murderer, although some murders he committed were just. It is hard to grasp that he could be the hero of the book. However there is another charcter who pocesses hero like traits who does a lot of good in the novel. This character is Ma.
Ma is the definition of an independent woman. She is strong and very brave. She may not be strong in a physical sense, but emotionally she is extremely strong. She is the glue to the Joad family. She makes sure everyone is taken care of and has exactly what the need. She lets everyone in the family lean hon her when times are tough. She also never shows that the hardships are getting to her. She never breaks even when most would think a woman, and even a man would. She actually reminds me a lot of my grandmother. My grandma is the kind of person who would do anything for anyone, especially family. Ma does just this. She puts herself in danger by still being in communication with her son who is a murderer(Steinbeck 311). Ma is also very brave. She laid next to the body of a dead person in order for her family to get accross the border(Steinbeck 228). First off that is disgusting and I just do not think i could do such a thing. However, i have never experienced the love a mother has for her child.
Ma accomplishes a lot in comparisen to other people in this time, especially women. She survives a lot and when i say a lot i mean a lot of extremely hard things including things like not having any money and starvation. She is someone who never gives up and she is a way the author represents the theme of never giving up.
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.
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