1. The most evident example of trying to keep the family together is the incident when the car breaks down. On the side of the road Tom proposes that him and Casy stay behind to fix the truck while everyone else continues to California. Ma makes a stand against this because at the time just about the only thing they really had left was the family, and she didn't want to take the chance of it getting broke apart. 2. Today, this unity is just as important as it was back then. One example of this is when a family goes on vacation. The parents tell the children not to stray and simply hold the hands of the smaller children. They try their hardest to keep the family as one unit.
1)I don't find the statement, "To Ma, the unity of the family is paramount to anything else," to be applicable. Ma made no effort to inform her jailed son of the families move across the country! That is a pretty big deal, and she left him out of it.
2) Every family is different. In society as a whole family is becoming less and less attached to each other. When families are going through hard times it brings them closer together, but when everyone is doing fine people tend to live independent from their immiediete household family.
1)Keeping the family together is Ma's goal no matter what. She feels like she has to take care of everyone. No one is left behind or forgoten. When Al went back to Tom and Casy he brought food for them from Ma. Even though she couldn't be there she still wanted to take care of them. She also told Al to tell them not to argue with one another. She wants the family to stay close. 2)Yes, it is still important to mothers that their family is taken care of. Usually the mother is the one who tries the hardest to keep the family together in today's society. The mother is the strongest link in the family and the family looks to her for love and support.
Ma's reasons for keeping the family together are referenced through Muley Grave's situation. He stays behind as the rest of his family headed to California, and turns into a paranoid, unpredictable man. Grandpa wants to stay behind, but the family loads him into the truck while he is asleep and the family heads to California. This type of family unity is seen through the elderly population. Oftentimes, older members of the family become dependent on care by others are are put into nursing homes or dependent living centers. However, many families change their living situations so they can encompass the needs of their oldest generation and the family can stay together.
1. Ma made sure that grandpa started the trip with them to California even if in the end it killed him. She arranged the plan to give him the sleeping potion to load him up in the car. 2. Some places unity is required to survive, for example the army, while other places do not nessisarily need unity.
1. When they were preparing and packing for California, Ma made sure that it was a family job. She made she that everyone was involved with the preparation of leaving the house in hopes of starting a new life in California. By doing this, the family was thereby united.
2. Although Ma felt that unity of the family was top priority, this standard is crumbling in many families today. Presently, it is uncommon for many families to even eat meals together. In some cases, the family members are strewn around a household, some watching TV, teenagers likely to be sitting in front of a computer. In other situation, family members are so involved with their own lives that they rarely see each other. Not to mention, the rising divorce rates in America are constantly proving that unity is no longer a main concern in modern society.
1.In my opinion, Ma wants her family to be unified, however, through certain events it was easy to see that she knew she wasn't able to keep her family together. Like Jordan said, Ma wants her family to be together, but as they are planning to move she has no intention of sending Tom a letter letting him know. That shows that Ma, although she misses Tom, would rather keep the family that was already with her together. 2. Today, children are not just seen as sons or daughters that are being raised to help tend the farm, and live down the street from their parents for the rest of their lives. Although family is still extremely important, factors such as technology, opportunity, education, and others have come between family's causing them to be more spread out.
1. Ma is concerned about keeping the family together, but it really makes you think about what would have happened had Tom not returned. If Tom had not run into them when he did, then he would not have known where they were and where they were headed. If Ma wants to keep the family together, than would she have written the letter to Tom that she told him about? 2. The unity of families is still seen in families today, sometimes. When one person in the family goes through a tough time then the family comes together and is strong, but when everyone is rainbows and sunshine then its kind of a go on your own business kind of relationship. Either way, family unity is still important wheter you are in a rough spot or not.
As Kyle discussed Ma not wanting the family to split up after the car needed repair was a paramount example of Ma thinking of family unity before anything else. To extend on that I believe that Ma’s actions to persuade the family to stay together are not always the finest. When the family disagrees with Ma when she insists to stay together, Ma picks up a jack handle and threatens them with it. This, in a strange way, shows how family unity is important to Ma. It also shows that the changes the families have undergone recently are getting to her. The thought of the family separating sparks a fire inside of Ma and she will not let the family burn out. I believe that family unity today is much less paramount in today’s world than in the time of the Dust Bowl. As Cassie stated before, back then children were raised to take care of the family farm or business. Developing the same profession unifies family members in a great way, and that is rarely seen in the world today. Also, because of technology, and our busy lifestyles, the family dinner is disappearing also. What used to be the focal point of family unity is nearly extinct.
"...Like a bunch a cows, when the lobos are ranging, stick all together. I ain't scared while we're all here, all that's alive, but I ain't gonna see us bust up." Obviously, Ma's statement displays her desire for her family's unity. She feels safe when her family is all around her. She feels more in control of a semi-chaotic situation when she knows the state of her family.
The idea of family is not the same in current society. With the "be more, do more" outlook on life, there are three-year old Picassos and two-foot tall Michael Jordans. Children and parents alike are trying too zip a suitcase that is simply too full. Once a common daily practice, family dinners now come as a pleasant suprise. Although time together isn't everything, many families are much more distant from one another than previously. Families should able to stick together and stand up for one another when times are hard, but distance can place a strain on these bonds.
I realize this instance has been discussed several times before, but think the significance has been emphasized properly. The scene with Ma and the jack handle is the first time she has ever expressed any form of aggressive hostility. From the reaction of the other family members and previous reading, it would seem that up until this point Ma has always maintain a state of quiet complacenty common to women of the era, but when the family unity is threatened, she has a complete change in character. Ma even goes so far as to threaten her own husband with his life, if the family is divided. She is one of the few to realize the significance of family and comparionship in these times of trouble. Despite any misfortunes that might become them, as long they have each other they will be all right. It is misfortunate this same fight for family values is absent in today's society. No objections are made when meals are eaten seperatly, or evenings are spent apart. It seems in the hustle and bustle we have the family has been forgotten.
2. Unfortunately it seems that family does not have the same value as it did. Many families are separated by divorce, busy lifestyles, and the simple fact that many do not place family as high of a priority. Numerous families do not even take the time to eat dinner together, or have “family time” where the family is together, as a whole group.
Ma even though she wants to obey the law keeps the family, specifically Tom with them even if it risks getting Tom to violate his parole. She takes this risk because she believes that Tom and the family will not do will without each other.
As far as this being present in society today I think family may be abandoned more often these days but it is just as important if not more important today. More and more we see single parents raising kids and in most cases these children could benefit from having a second parent and though some feel good about being independent im sure most of them would rather have a family that could stick together.
1. One attempt to keep the family together and strong is seen with the death of grandma. Even though they are extremely short on funds, they still provide a proper burial for her. 2. Family life is hardly non-existent in today's society. It is not uncommon to have both parents working. These parents ship their kids off to a nanny or daycare center to be cared for. Many of these children grow up spending more time with their care taker than with their parent.
1. Ma refusing to have the group split up is the perfect example of her decision to keep the family together. She knows that together they stand a chance, but if separated, they lose almost all hope.
2. Unity isn't quite as important in that their is not really a struggle to survive. To simply survive the average American is not going to necessarily have to depend on others. In business it is always beneficial to have unity among co-workers and possibly other companies. It is however, not necessary, and therefore not paramount to keep unity in the family.
1) To Ma, keeping her family together and their well-being the best that it can be in that kind of situation, is most likely one of the only things keeping her sane right now.
This example comes from an earlier chapter, and reveals Ma's desire to keep the family together.
Earlier, the Grandma had died and no one (but Ma) had known. It seems as though Ma did not immediately inform the others of the passing of the Grandma because she wished to keep the family together and less focused on the stress of the time. This example fully proves the intentions of Ma's actions and decision.
2) As I have stated before, a family depends on each other to fully thrive. How can one move on in their lives if they do not have the unity to work together and create the hope needed to solve a problem. Today, we are allowing our family members to fall between the cracks of our lives, just so that we can better ourselves.
1. Ma recognizes the what effects separation will have upon family. She is a visibly intelligent woman and obviously has not turned her head, like some have, to the likings of people such as Muley Graves. Clearly, she does not want any one in her family, including herself, to end up with the same habbits of Muley or the same mindset. So, she does the tremendously immense task of attempting to keep the family stuck together.
2. This extreme unity is not as dominant in our society currently. Americans comprehend the complex importance of family values, but at the same time, families are often split apart or simply grow apart. This could happen by means of divorce or separtion, or in a mere difference in opinions or beliefs. It is not injurious to society, it is purely a difference from the past to the present.
1. I agree with jordan, mainly because it seems like Ma does not care when she is surrounded by death. When Grandma dies she doesn't even mention it to the rest of the family, she just goes about her business as if nothing had happened.
2. Today, there is a wide variety of families in our country. Some are more independant, some are very close, and others experience both independance and closeness. It comes down to the situation that the family is in, and how they want to deal with it.
1. When Grandma dies, Ma does not even mention it to the rest of the family. As we discussed in class today, this may have been so the rest of the family could keep moving without distraction. 2. In today's society family plays a large role in most peoples' lives, but I would not say it is paramount. It is not uncommon for people to have happy, successful lives without remaining close to their family members.
1. It is evident that Ma cares so much about preserving the family in her deaings withe the other characters of the novel. When someon else is struggling, she still offerst he help of er family but never at the cost oost of ending the pat of another.
Ma is an example of leadership because of the way she cares for everyone. Once someone has been involved with the Joad family, they are part of the family. Ma is smart in not letting the family split up because who knows what could have happened. She seems to not care about wealth or food, but rather her family. It is better to stay as a whole and not in parts. Ma would be the type of person who would give everything to someone in need and not be regretful. It is true that she did not send Tom a letter and tell him that the family was moving, but in chapter eight, it details out how much her spirit rose when she found out that Tom was back. When Rose of Sharon tells Ma about her plans of living in town with Connie, Ma gets very distraught and does not agree with the idea.
I do not think this is true today because people are not as dependent on other people as they were in the book. Families had to stick together to make it through, but it is different today. You do not see families together as much, especially with divorce rates so high. There is no one to blame because parents are not as strict today as they were, but kids do not put their share in either. Many kids also move out at an earlier age for various reasons, but that also affects the family bond.
Ma wants her family to make their journey together. She made packing a family activity, and loaded Pa up as he was sleeping. it was a group effort the whole way there.
Today this is not seen in all families as everyone is busy, technology advances, and businesses are not often family oriented anymore. Although in some families parents try to make an effort to still have a family dinner weekly or make special trips to the store into family events. I know my mom does!
When Grandpa was dying she took it very hard because her whole perpuse was to keep the family together on the long journey to California. Also when Al wanted to go off and get a job at a garage Ma would not allow it.
I think that now its different because families expect you to go off and get a job and a family of your own. Get a house of your own and make a new life. I don't think families are as important now as they used to be. That makes me sad because i wish that family matter as much now as it did back in the 30's.
An example of the importance Ma places on the unity of the family is seen when she tells Al that he can not go off to get a job at a garage. She does this even though it is a sensible suggestion due to the fact that he would probably get a job due to his ability with automobiles and it would be a steady source of income for the family. In this instance she is placing the unity of the family over the money that would be gained by Al leaving.
In today's society, this sense of family unity has almost entirely dissolved. It is now possible for an individual to support ones self and live totally on their own. It is also possible for a family, if separated, to contact each other and reunite; an event that was extremely rare in the time of the novel.
24 comments:
1. The most evident example of trying to keep the family together is the incident when the car breaks down. On the side of the road Tom proposes that him and Casy stay behind to fix the truck while everyone else continues to California. Ma makes a stand against this because at the time just about the only thing they really had left was the family, and she didn't want to take the chance of it getting broke apart.
2. Today, this unity is just as important as it was back then. One example of this is when a family goes on vacation. The parents tell the children not to stray and simply hold the hands of the smaller children. They try their hardest to keep the family as one unit.
1)I don't find the statement, "To Ma, the unity of the family is paramount to anything else," to be applicable. Ma made no effort to inform her jailed son of the families move across the country! That is a pretty big deal, and she left him out of it.
2) Every family is different. In society as a whole family is becoming less and less attached to each other. When families are going through hard times it brings them closer together, but when everyone is doing fine people tend to live independent from their immiediete household family.
1)Keeping the family together is Ma's goal no matter what. She feels like she has to take care of everyone. No one is left behind or forgoten. When Al went back to Tom and Casy he brought food for them from Ma. Even though she couldn't be there she still wanted to take care of them. She also told Al to tell them not to argue with one another. She wants the family to stay close.
2)Yes, it is still important to mothers that their family is taken care of. Usually the mother is the one who tries the hardest to keep the family together in today's society. The mother is the strongest link in the family and the family looks to her for love and support.
Ma's reasons for keeping the family together are referenced through Muley Grave's situation. He stays behind as the rest of his family headed to California, and turns into a paranoid, unpredictable man. Grandpa wants to stay behind, but the family loads him into the truck while he is asleep and the family heads to California. This type of family unity is seen through the elderly population. Oftentimes, older members of the family become dependent on care by others are are put into nursing homes or dependent living centers. However, many families change their living situations so they can encompass the needs of their oldest generation and the family can stay together.
1. Ma made sure that grandpa started the trip with them to California even if in the end it killed him. She arranged the plan to give him the sleeping potion to load him up in the car.
2. Some places unity is required to survive, for example the army, while other places do not nessisarily need unity.
1. When they were preparing and packing for California, Ma made sure that it was a family job. She made she that everyone was involved with the preparation of leaving the house in hopes of starting a new life in California. By doing this, the family was thereby united.
2. Although Ma felt that unity of the family was top priority, this standard is crumbling in many families today. Presently, it is uncommon for many families to even eat meals together. In some cases, the family members are strewn around a household, some watching TV, teenagers likely to be sitting in front of a computer. In other situation, family members are so involved with their own lives that they rarely see each other. Not to mention, the rising divorce rates in America are constantly proving that unity is no longer a main concern in modern society.
1.In my opinion, Ma wants her family to be unified, however, through certain events it was easy to see that she knew she wasn't able to keep her family together. Like Jordan said, Ma wants her family to be together, but as they are planning to move she has no intention of sending Tom a letter letting him know. That shows that Ma, although she misses Tom, would rather keep the family that was already with her together.
2. Today, children are not just seen as sons or daughters that are being raised to help tend the farm, and live down the street from their parents for the rest of their lives. Although family is still extremely important, factors such as technology, opportunity, education, and others have come between family's causing them to be more spread out.
1. Ma is concerned about keeping the family together, but it really makes you think about what would have happened had Tom not returned. If Tom had not run into them when he did, then he would not have known where they were and where they were headed. If Ma wants to keep the family together, than would she have written the letter to Tom that she told him about?
2. The unity of families is still seen in families today, sometimes. When one person in the family goes through a tough time then the family comes together and is strong, but when everyone is rainbows and sunshine then its kind of a go on your own business kind of relationship. Either way, family unity is still important wheter you are in a rough spot or not.
As Kyle discussed Ma not wanting the family to split up after the car needed repair was a paramount example of Ma thinking of family unity before anything else. To extend on that I believe that Ma’s actions to persuade the family to stay together are not always the finest. When the family disagrees with Ma when she insists to stay together, Ma picks up a jack handle and threatens them with it. This, in a strange way, shows how family unity is important to Ma. It also shows that the changes the families have undergone recently are getting to her. The thought of the family separating sparks a fire inside of Ma and she will not let the family burn out.
I believe that family unity today is much less paramount in today’s world than in the time of the Dust Bowl. As Cassie stated before, back then children were raised to take care of the family farm or business. Developing the same profession unifies family members in a great way, and that is rarely seen in the world today. Also, because of technology, and our busy lifestyles, the family dinner is disappearing also. What used to be the focal point of family unity is nearly extinct.
"...Like a bunch a cows, when the lobos are ranging, stick all together. I ain't scared while we're all here, all that's alive, but I ain't gonna see us bust up."
Obviously, Ma's statement displays her desire for her family's unity. She feels safe when her family is all around her. She feels more in control of a semi-chaotic situation when she knows the state of her family.
The idea of family is not the same in current society. With the "be more, do more" outlook on life, there are three-year old Picassos and two-foot tall Michael Jordans. Children and parents alike are trying too zip a suitcase that is simply too full. Once a common daily practice, family dinners now come as a pleasant suprise. Although time together isn't everything, many families are much more distant from one another than previously. Families should able to stick together and stand up for one another when times are hard, but distance can place a strain on these bonds.
I realize this instance has been discussed several times before, but think the significance has been emphasized properly. The scene with Ma and the jack handle is the first time she has ever expressed any form of aggressive hostility. From the reaction of the other family members and previous reading, it would seem that up until this point Ma has always maintain a state of quiet complacenty common to women of the era, but when the family unity is threatened, she has a complete change in character. Ma even goes so far as to threaten her own husband with his life, if the family is divided. She is one of the few to realize the significance of family and comparionship in these times of trouble. Despite any misfortunes that might become them, as long they have each other they will be all right.
It is misfortunate this same fight for family values is absent in today's society. No objections are made when meals are eaten seperatly, or evenings are spent apart. It seems in the hustle and bustle we have the family has been forgotten.
2. Unfortunately it seems that family does not have the same value as it did. Many families are separated by divorce, busy lifestyles, and the simple fact that many do not place family as high of a priority. Numerous families do not even take the time to eat dinner together, or have “family time” where the family is together, as a whole group.
Ma even though she wants to obey the law keeps the family, specifically Tom with them even if it risks getting Tom to violate his parole. She takes this risk because she believes that Tom and the family will not do will without each other.
As far as this being present in society today I think family may be abandoned more often these days but it is just as important if not more important today. More and more we see single parents raising kids and in most cases these children could benefit from having a second parent and though some feel good about being independent im sure most of them would rather have a family that could stick together.
1. One attempt to keep the family together and strong is seen with the death of grandma. Even though they are extremely short on funds, they still provide a proper burial for her.
2. Family life is hardly non-existent in today's society. It is not uncommon to have both parents working. These parents ship their kids off to a nanny or daycare center to be cared for. Many of these children grow up spending more time with their care taker than with their parent.
1. Ma refusing to have the group split up is the perfect example of her decision to keep the family together. She knows that together they stand a chance, but if separated, they lose almost all hope.
2. Unity isn't quite as important in that their is not really a struggle to survive. To simply survive the average American is not going to necessarily have to depend on others. In business it is always beneficial to have unity among co-workers and possibly other companies. It is however, not necessary, and therefore not paramount to keep unity in the family.
1) To Ma, keeping her family together and their well-being the best that it can be in that kind of situation, is most likely one of the only things keeping her sane right now.
This example comes from an earlier chapter, and reveals Ma's desire to keep the family together.
Earlier, the Grandma had died and no one (but Ma) had known. It seems as though Ma did not immediately inform the others of the passing of the Grandma because she wished to keep the family together and less focused on the stress of the time. This example fully proves the intentions of Ma's actions and decision.
2) As I have stated before, a family depends on each other to fully thrive. How can one move on in their lives if they do not have the unity to work together and create the hope needed to solve a problem. Today, we are allowing our family members to fall between the cracks of our lives, just so that we can better ourselves.
1. Ma recognizes the what effects separation will have upon family. She is a visibly intelligent woman and obviously has not turned her head, like some have, to the likings of people such as Muley Graves. Clearly, she does not want any one in her family, including herself, to end up with the same habbits of Muley or the same mindset. So, she does the tremendously immense task of attempting to keep the family stuck together.
2. This extreme unity is not as dominant in our society currently. Americans comprehend the complex importance of family values, but at the same time, families are often split apart or simply grow apart. This could happen by means of divorce or separtion, or in a mere difference in opinions or beliefs. It is not injurious to society, it is purely a difference from the past to the present.
1. I agree with jordan, mainly because it seems like Ma does not care when she is surrounded by death. When Grandma dies she doesn't even mention it to the rest of the family, she just goes about her business as if nothing had happened.
2. Today, there is a wide variety of families in our country. Some are more independant, some are very close, and others experience both independance and closeness. It comes down to the situation that the family is in, and how they want to deal with it.
1. When Grandma dies, Ma does not even mention it to the rest of the family. As we discussed in class today, this may have been so the rest of the family could keep moving without distraction.
2. In today's society family plays a large role in most peoples' lives, but I would not say it is paramount. It is not uncommon for people to have happy, successful lives without remaining close to their family members.
1. It is evident that Ma cares so much about preserving the family in her deaings withe the other characters of the novel. When someon else is struggling, she still offerst he help of er family but never at the cost oost of ending the pat of another.
Ma is an example of leadership because of the way she cares for everyone. Once someone has been involved with the Joad family, they are part of the family. Ma is smart in not letting the family split up because who knows what could have happened. She seems to not care about wealth or food, but rather her family. It is better to stay as a whole and not in parts. Ma would be the type of person who would give everything to someone in need and not be regretful. It is true that she did not send Tom a letter and tell him that the family was moving, but in chapter eight, it details out how much her spirit rose when she found out that Tom was back. When Rose of Sharon tells Ma about her plans of living in town with Connie, Ma gets very distraught and does not agree with the idea.
I do not think this is true today because people are not as dependent on other people as they were in the book. Families had to stick together to make it through, but it is different today. You do not see families together as much, especially with divorce rates so high. There is no one to blame because parents are not as strict today as they were, but kids do not put their share in either. Many kids also move out at an earlier age for various reasons, but that also affects the family bond.
Ma wants her family to make their journey together. She made packing a family activity, and loaded Pa up as he was sleeping. it was a group effort the whole way there.
Today this is not seen in all families as everyone is busy, technology advances, and businesses are not often family oriented anymore. Although in some families parents try to make an effort to still have a family dinner weekly or make special trips to the store into family events. I know my mom does!
When Grandpa was dying she took it very hard because her whole perpuse was to keep the family together on the long journey to California. Also when Al wanted to go off and get a job at a garage Ma would not allow it.
I think that now its different because families expect you to go off and get a job and a family of your own. Get a house of your own and make a new life. I don't think families are as important now as they used to be. That makes me sad because i wish that family matter as much now as it did back in the 30's.
An example of the importance Ma places on the unity of the family is seen when she tells Al that he can not go off to get a job at a garage. She does this even though it is a sensible suggestion due to the fact that he would probably get a job due to his ability with automobiles and it would be a steady source of income for the family. In this instance she is placing the unity of the family over the money that would be gained by Al leaving.
In today's society, this sense of family unity has almost entirely dissolved. It is now possible for an individual to support ones self and live totally on their own. It is also possible for a family, if separated, to contact each other and reunite; an event that was extremely rare in the time of the novel.
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