The Hoovervilles are one of the main things that keep the Joads from falling apart. It makes them feel like they are part of something, and not just runaways. Ma still does not give up on her basic beliefs and because of that she is able to keep her head. This means that the whole family will be able to survive. No matter what happens. Even when the Joad family has hardly enough food to get by themselves Ma always gives some to the other people in the Hooverville. She decides that her morals are more important than one meal. If she gives up on staying off the bottom then she will never be able to get back up.
The quote “We're the people that live. They ain't gonna wipe us out. Why, we're the people - we go on” by Ma shows that she believes they can make it through anything as long as they are still a family. All they have to do is stick to their basic values in life and they will just keep going. Ma also shows that she is the heart and soul of this family. If she were to roll over the whole family would dissolve and go their separate ways. Ma clearly believes that alone they are weak, but together they are strong. Ma saying what she did was a little shocking. She usually keeps her emotions inside in order to keep everyone else calm. She knows that this is a critical time in their lives. If she doesn’t keep them together no one will.
Matt,
ReplyDeleteYou've got Ma's feelings down pretty well and although she is focused on her own family, she begins to see the impact the migration has had on all families especially the ones that have migrated before the Joads. Ask yourself, "who are the we?" referred to by Ma, why do they go on?, and who are they at odds with?
As is, this post scores a 3.