In The Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck greatly depicts the themes of strong sacrifice and strength through the use of the characters Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon. These two characters represent the need for a feeling of unity and the desperation faced by so many people world-wide who struggle for survival.
Throughout the novel, Ma Joad portrays the strength that many people fight to keep in hard times. Ma is seen as the foundation upon which the other family members stand and therefore, "if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever really deeply wavered or despaired the family would fall, the family will to function would be gone" (p. 100). Her strength is so strong that it is dispersed throughout the rest of the family which in turn strengthens them as well. Ma knows that if she does not stay steadfast in her strength that the rest of the family will fall. This persistency enables her to keep her family tightly together and hold onto that feeling of unity even though they have no real material possessions and are fighting for survival. Steinbeck reveals Ma's strength when Al and Tom volunteer to stay behind and fix the Wilson's car and Ma threatens Pa with a jack handle. Ma understands that the only thing they have in the world is each other, and she tries to help the other family members realize this. Even in times of despair, Ma is able to keep her wits about her and overcome her fear and anxiety in order to get done what needs to be accomplished. This is evident toward the end of the novel when the rains have begun to flood the boxcars and Ma leads them up to higher grounds. When everyone else feels as if they cannot go any further because they have lost everything, her strength gives her the ability to keep on and hold the family up as long as she possibly can.
Steinbeck uses Rose of Sharon to show the sacrifice that not only the Joads made but also the rest of Okies during that time.
