.
The novel The Grapes of Wrath, written by John Steinbeck, is a story that takes place in the 1930's, the time of the depression and the dust bowl. The Joad family is forced from their home when the crops do not grow and money becomes short. Like most of the western farmers, they pack up and move to California. During the long, hard trip many members of the family begin to change.
Ma is one of the first who changes. When the book began, she behaved like a traditional housewife, taking care of the children and cooking and keeping quiet while the men talked. However, on the road when the family wants to split up, she revolts. She takes a jack handle and threatens Pa. Pa lets her have her way. Now through the rest of the book, Ma is the head of the family. She tells the Joads what is going to be done and where they're going. "Pa sniffled, " Seems like times is changed,' he said sarcastically. "Time was when a man said what we do. Seems like women is tellin' now." (Pg. 481).
Casey, a retired preacher, is the next person to change. When he is first introduced in the book, Casey is a lost soul searching for his purpose. He wanders around by himself and is always thinking about things. When he meets up with Tom Joad and goes home with him, he asks the family to take him with them on their trip to California. They take him along and the whole trip he barely talks and thinks to himself. The big change in Tom Casey comes when Tom finds him again at the peach camp after he is let out of jail. Casey finally figures out what it is he wants to do. He tells Tom that he has been listening very closely to the people lately. He decides to try and show the people that they are being taken advantage of and leads a strike. Unfortunately, the deputies don't like this and he is killed. .
Pa changes on the road also. Before the trip begins, Pa was the leader of the family. He does the work and keeps things in order.
