Chapter 8 is where the reader is first introduced to the Joad family. In just a short space of time all in one chapter, Steinbeck, does a very good job of introducing the reader to many important memorable characters, including Ma Joad, Pa Joad, and all of Tom Joad's siblings(Steinbeck 81). My first impression of Pa is that he was good hearted and a head of the family. He is who I thought was going to lead the Joad's in their own journey across the country. Ma is however who i think is the real leader after reading the whole story. My first impression of Ma Joad in Chapter 8 is that she is who is going to keep the whole family together and serve as an anchor in both keeping them safe and ensuring survival of her loved one'es. Al is a typicall teenage boy. He was cocky and into cars and girls. He is who I could see Tom being like when he was Al's age.
Steinbeck, the author, in Grapes of Wrath characterizes his characters oddly, and very fast. It is a lot different than any of the other classic books we have had to read. It was like he spit out what all the characters were like back to back to back. However, we get to see the reunitifcation of Tom Joad with his whole family. It is a very interesting dynamic to the book. I can imagine that the whole situation would be awkward. He has been in prison for a long time and is just now seeing all of his family again. It was almost like him meeting them for the first time since it had been so long. As a reader we were meeting them for the first time, so it was like the reader, myself, and Tom Joad were all in the same boat. It was interesting and different than any other book that i have had to read for school.
Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin, 2002. Print.
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