Life and Death :: essays research papers

Throughout history man has made many journeys, far and wide, Moses great march though the Red ocean and Columbus crossing of the Atlantic Ocean are only a few of mans greatest voyages. Even today great journeys are being made. In every instances people have had to rise above themselves and over come emence odds. The Joads did just that by traveling to California to find work. Steinbeck shows one aspect of this tangible life journey by displaying it by a turtle and its struggle to reach the other side of a road. As the turtle is to the highest degree to reach his goal, it is returned to its original location, but it does not waver in its determination, and continues across the road until it reaches the other side. The Joad family and Casy identify with this the most because the undergo redoubted heartache, yet they stay true to their plans and never give up. They are faced with death and sickness, but they never give up. Steinbeck wrote In the evening a queer thing happened twent y families became one family, the children were the children of all the loss of home became one loss, and the golden time in the West was one dream This was what the Joads were searching for they cute to feel like they belonged. Ma was the one who was mostly searching for this. This is her journey to keep the family together. Her belief that a broken-family will not be able to carry through anything. This is displayed by her not allowing the two cars to split and arrive at California at different times, when one of the cars breaks down, as they are leaving Oklahoma. Ma says I aint a-gonna go. The only way shell let the family break up is if pa whips her and makes her go. Pas journey is displayed by his trying to fit in and make a difference. He does not handle this move very well, and throughout their journey, he is confused, and not as headstrong as Ma. He realizes this also, he knows that he cant help the family the way he use to. So he searches for anyway he can help. When the rain was coming it was this appraisal to dig a ditch. It was a good idea but it failed and it reflected on him. Tom Joad is a very complicated individual, who is a tremendous asset and at the same time a tremendous burden.