During life's most difficult moments, we encounter crises that reveal the true character of those around us. Those who are strong are divided from the weak and followers are divided from the leaders. In the novel The Grapes of Wrath, author John Steinbeck introduces the character Ma Joad who plays an important role as the rock that holds the family together. The Joad family, as well as many Oklahoma families, are forced to leave their homes in search of work and better opportunities; California not only leaves them in poverty, but also in desperation. But despite all this, Ma Joad is the leader of the family who shows selflessness to protect and protect her family. But Joad is the mother of the Joad family and the leader. His features showed great power in his personality and character. But she was heavy, but not fat; pang of motherhood and work. She wore a large Mother Hubbard of gray cloth in which there had once been colorful flowers, but the color had now faded, so that the small floral pattern was only slightly lighter than the background. The dress reached her ankles and her bare feet, strong and broad, moved quickly and deftly across the floor. His thin, steel-gray hair was tied in a quiff and sparse knots at the back of his head. Her strong, freckled arms were bare to the elbow, and her hands were plump and delicate, like those of a plump little girl. He looked out at the sun. His full face was not soft; he was controlled with kindness (Steinbeck 99). The connotation in the words to describe Ma shows great strength and impact in each, telling what kind of person he is. The contrasting words such as "strong" and "delicate" explain her character, maternal, polite but also strong and controlled. "His hazel eyes... center of paper... n.d. "The Grapes of Wrath: Books." Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Network. October 20, 2010. Johnson, Claudia D. Understanding The Grapes of Wrath : A student casebook on historical issues, sources, and documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood, 1999.A., "The Importance of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath to American Culture." Associatedcontent.com. October 20, 2010.Naylor, Brian. "NPR: Grapes of Wrath, Present at Creation." NPR: News and Analysis, World, Music and the Arts. October 20, 2010. Sharpe, Taylor. “Motherhood, Matriarchy, and Feminism in The Grapes of Wrath.” Associated Content from Yahoo! : Penguin, 1992. Wyatt, David. New Essays on the Grapes of Wrath. New York: Cambridge UP, 1990.