Grapes of Wrath, Ma Joad

Ma Joad is one of the main characters in John Steinbeck's novel Grapes of Wrath. Ma is a strong, wife and mother who is the leader of the family. She does anything to keep the family together. In Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck uses two literary techniques, direct description and portrayal of characters behavior, to create the character, Ma Joad. With the use of the literary technique, direct description, Steinbeck describes Ma's physical appearance. He describes …

…She knows Tom has a quiet strength. She knows Al doesn't know how to deal with responsibility, and she doesn't criticize Uncle John's alcohol problem. Ma is the battery of the family in that she keeps it running. Through the use of direct description and portrayal of characters' behavior, Steinbeck creates the character Ma Joad in the novel, Grapes of Wrath. Ma is the strength of the family and keeps it together through rough times.