Family Disintergration

matter how big or small it is, it will have a lasting impact on

the person or situation that it is affecting. In The Grapes of

Wrath, Steinbeck demonstrates major change in regards to the

Joad family and their beliefs. As they travel from Oklahoma to

California, they are faced with many new people, challenges,

and different ways of life then they are used to. The Joads

progress from a concern only for themselves and their own

personal welfare to a concern for all the people in the world.

Although they seem irrelevant at the time, each small

change that the Joad family evolves through affects them in the

long run, eventually treating the Joads to “disintegration of

the smaller family unit which is replaced by the larger world

family of the migrant people” (“Joad’s Journey”). One of the

first changes that the Joads faced was being kicked off their

land. Because they had lived there for many generations, they

had strong ties to their land, and almost felt as if they were

losing their family history. This is demonstrated when Ma

burns several items before the family leaves.

Ma set her lantern on the floor. She reached behind

. . .