Exploration 8

1)  The final act of Ma and Rose of Sharon are shocking and quite disturbing in my opinion. I understand that Rose of Sharon is capable of breast feeding and realizes she can offer nourishment to the man or even to the family itself because they have finally run out and money and food, however it leaves my stomach unsettled. I believe Rose of Sharon has finally lost her mind near the end of the book. She struggled to feed herself and her baby throughout the pregnancy, she fought the battle of sin and being afraid she was going to lose the baby, she also carried many forms of sickness throughout. Since Connie left she was worried she would not be able to support her child, and constantly questioned if Connie would be coming back. I think Rose of Sharon may feel like she had a purpose in life at that moment, but other than that i found her actions and Ma's approval very strange.

3) The Grapes of Wrath is a great form of American literature that puts the reader in the time of the great depression. We as readers are able to experience the hardships with the Joad family and feel their pain and struggle throughout their journey. It is important for those of us now, and for those of the future to understand the struggle our country had to go through to get it to where it is today. Kids are growing up with thousands of forms of technology and conveniences that the Joad family had to give up and live completely without. I think it is important to remember who the Joad's are because they were a family who had to struggle through the depression, this is not a success story being told but it is a great example of how family should be, and to be good to thy neighbor. Some things to take away are to never give up on your dreams as the Joad's dreamed to get to California and make a new living for themselves, and i bet that is just what they had continued on to do. Second, don't take the things we have and the people we have for granted. you ever know when someone will be gone, or when your last day will be so it is important to live life to the fullest. Some people say "money makes the world go round" i don't think this is true at all however, the Joad's lived off their love for one another, and we see at the end of the book how the man in the barn was willing to give up his food so his son could survive. Sadly today we do not take notice of the simple and beautiful things in life like nature and John Steinbeck does a great job of creating detailed imagery throughout the novel and the Joad's were very thankful and in awe of what California had to offer them. The Joad's are a family every American should look up to.