What does Tom Joad represent?

As a man of action, he embodies one of the novel’s main philosophical strands, pragmatism, standing in contrast to the idealistic and talkative Jim Casy. While Casy is predominantly an observer and commentator on the human condition, Tom’s acts of humanity are subconscious, his insights and compassion intuitive.

Who is the real leader of the Joad family?

A determined and loving woman, Ma Joad emerges as the family’s center of strength over the course of the novel as Pa Joad gradually becomes less effective as a leader and provider.

Why did Tom Joad have to leave the family?

The Joads need to leave the camp in order to find work, so Tom says goodbye to Wilkie and Jule. The Joads’ tire pops, and Tom and Al fix it like MacGyver. Tom drives the family to a peach farm. That very same day, Tom turns into a machine and picks, like, a million peaches.

Why is Ma the anchoring character in the Joad family?

Ma represents the “citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken.” Because she is stronger than Pa is, she becomes the guiding force behind the family. During the novel, Ma becomes increasingly influential in the decision-making process and acts with authority. …

What kind of person is Tom Joad?

Tom Joad. The novel’s protagonist, and Ma and Pa Joad’s favorite son. Tom is good-natured and thoughtful and makes do with what life hands him. Even though he killed a man and has been separated from his family for four years, he does not waste his time with regrets.

How was Tom Joad a hero?

Tom Joad has found something to believe in. Though he starts the novel as a somewhat selfish former convict, his family’s hardship turns him into an altruistic hero. Tom is introduced to the idea of selflessness from the former preacher Jim Casy. When he sees Casy killed by a police officer, Tom kills that officer.

Was Tom Joad a real person?

There are, likewise, various gritty, good-looking men called ”Tom Joad. ” None of them are related in real life.

Does Tom Joad leave his family?

Tom Joad: The son of a cropper, Tom—released from prison after serving time for manslaughter—returns to find his family has lost their farm and is moving west to California to start a new life.

What happened to the Joad family’s house?

Tom and Casy see that the Joad house has been pushed off its foundations. They check to see whether a note has been left for Tom, but only find clear evidence that the house has been deserted. The house has not been rummaged or looted, an indication that something is wrong throughout the neighborhood.

When Tom Joad arrives at his uncle’s house what does he discover?

Tom learns that his family has been evicted from the farm and has moved in with Uncle John. When the two men reach Uncle John’s home, they find the family, enticed by handbills advertising farm-labour jobs, preparing to drive to California.

Who tells Tom that his family had moved in with Uncle John?

Joads
Summary: Chapter 6 Tom and Casy see Muley Graves walking toward them. He reports that the Joads have moved in with Tom’s Uncle John.

Why is Tom Joad the hero?

Why is Tom Joad important to the Joad family?

At the beginning of the novel, he has just been paroled after serving a four-year prison sentence for killing a man in self-defense. He is strong, stoic, principled, and observant; during the trip to California, the Joad family comes to rely on Tom for precisely these qualities. Tom is very principled, and injustice enrages him.

Who are the main characters in Tom Joad?

Tom Joad Character Analysis. Tom Joad is the novel’s protagonist. At the beginning of the novel, he has just been paroled after serving a four-year prison sentence for killing a man in self-defense.

Why is Tom Joad important in the grapes of Wrath?

The hardship and hostility faced by the Joad family on their journey west serve to convert Tom to Casy’s teachings.

Who is the protagonist in Ma and Pa Joad?

Tom Joad – The novel’s protagonist, and Ma and Pa Joad’s favorite son. Tom is good-natured and thoughtful and makes do with what life hands him.