Topic > "The Grapes of Wrath: Effects of Family Reunion grows in the heat The California sun Similar to the growth pattern of a vine, the assemblage of a family comes together in clusters Although some grapes may separate or lose maturity, each individual grape is a product of the plant that does not can be taken away is synonymous. No matter how many miles one pursues to separate himself from his legacy, he cannot, because the blood of a human being connects with those around him. People in this world are united, and the vine itself extends and connects with other various lives. The Grapes of Wrath written by John Steinbeck, the theme of family plays a central and fundamental role in the novel. Get a tailor-made essay on Why Video Games Shouldn't Be prohibited? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of the narrative, the Joad family has a traditional patriarchal family structure in which males are the dominant heads of the house; however, this time-honored system will not last during the California pilgrimage. This adjustment shows that a male-dominated structure is not necessarily crucial in a family context. The Joads' truck, which plays a significant role as a representation of the family's patriarchal structure, does not appear to relinquish its authority. It is very important for the family. When the whole family sits together in the truck, Uncle John, “[being] one of the heads of the family…had to rule; and now he had to sit in the place of honor next to the driver” (Steinbeck 96). Pa Joad and Uncle John serve as natural rulers. The Joad family functions similar to a government where each member knows their duty. The family functions as if it were able to communicate without words. At peak times, the Joads function like a tireless, well-oiled machine. Contradicting the stated roles of breadwinners, one of the most influential people in the novel is Ma Joad: she serves as the family's fortitude. Steinbeck writes that Ma Joad "seemed to know that if she faltered, the family would tremble, and if she truly gave up or despaired, the family would fall, the family's will to function would disappear" (74). He desperately tries to keep his family together in harsh and unstable circumstances with all his willpower. When times become discordant, they have a harder time working together. Ma's keeping the family together replaces the idea that only men can provide emotional well-being. Dad loses his identity when he leaves his flexible and stable job as a farmer and lets Mom take his place. Literary critic Taylor Sharpe writes, “But [Joad]… encounters no opposition from the weak men around her, and soon becomes the family's driving force. This shift from patriarchal to matriarchal functions... brings some beneficial and some detrimental aspects to the Joads' daily lives. The mother holds the family together to survive the disturbing events. Survival. Having a family prevails as a necessity for survival. John Steinbeck makes it clear that the family would not survive without each other. Despite community feelings, a family is not simply classified as shared DNA, heritage, and blood; in fact, family is what an individual creates. Family is made up of those who appear in a person's life and remain there regardless of circumstances. The family is firm and unshakable. Although countless of Joad's loved ones are lost during the journey, they still reside as part of the family. In the end the Joads did.