Pa Joad Artifacts
Mollie Redman
Housing
Quote:
"'Now, Ma, don' think I don' wanta go. I ain't had a good gutful to eat in two weeks. 'Course I filled up, but I did' take no good from it'" (Steinbeck 352).
Pa knows the family will not be able to go to a place like Weedpatch again, so Pa wants to stay as long as possible. Ma is able to look at the family's needs for the future and not just the present, realizing that the family has to leave before it is too late. Pa being blind to these situations are what make Ma the head of the family
Work
Quote:
"The men trooped in. 'Meat, by god!' said Tom. 'And coffee. I smell her. Jesus, I'm hungry!'" (Steinbeck 378).
For the men, working is a way to provide for the family. Pa gains self esteem while working. The feeling that he gets when he provides his family with money makes him feel important and needed.
Bed
Quote:
"'You ain't said where-at we're a-hurryin' to,' Pa reminded her sarcastically" (Steinbeck 452).
Pa's agitation with their situation causes him to make immature remarks to Ma due to his inability to support the family.
Suffering
Quote:
"The weary men watched, their mouths hanging open. The tree moved slowly down...The water piled up behind it...The men broke and ran, and the current worked smoothly into the flat, under the cars, under the automobiles" (Steinbeck 442).
Pa's efforts to dig a ditch and slow the water from rising fail due to the inevability of their situation. He only causes weariness within the men at the camp, which slows their efforts to make it out.