GOW+Ch16+Discussion

As the family moves towards California they face many obstacles, such as their car breaking down and money running low. How do these obstacles affect the characters individually and the family structure? How does it reveal the strength in the family and why is that?

These stressful circumstances bring out another side to all the characters. Some of the characters such as Rose of Sharon and Connie became very dreamy. They had visions that life would be close to perfect and everything would work out they way they wanted it too. Al also seems to have his own vision, he wants to be powerful as well. They all seem to think that money will just be rollin’ in and they don’t really think realistically. This shows that the family is on its way to separating in an every man for themselves sort of way. Tom also changes he becomes very stubborn and refuses to pay for camping, he feels that people in desperate need should not be ripped off. Ma finally sets it straight she steps up big time, and for a moment takes charge of the family and even resorts to violence if needed. She knows that there are tough times ahead and that life may not be very easy, Ma keeps the family together and makes everything work, this shows that Ma holds the power, yet she believes in the old values that the mother should be the nurture and caretaker. This is because everybody else seems to be dreaming to keep negative thoughts out of their head and to escape reality. Ma feels so strongly that separating the family will result in disaster thus causing her to step up and keep the family together.