Character Analysis in The Grapes of Wrath There are two main characters in The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck. Those characters are Tom Joad and Ma Joad. Well, I guess this is the best time to really start analyzing them, since that's what character analysis is for. But Joad is the focal point for the entire family. She is the driving force that allows the family to overcome even the most difficult moments. He never lets anyone know of any doubts or pain he may have, as even the slightest sign of weakness could cause a slight panic in the family. Even though he is a very strong character, he is a somewhat flat and static character. She doesn't change throughout the story, she pretty much stays the same. His character is developed through indirect characterization. You see her influence her family by doing whatever she says, pretty much all the time. Ma is also a protagonist, in the sense that she is the center of the family. Tom is almost as important a character, and is also the first character seen. From the beginning of the story he seems to be the "black sheep", especially since he spent some time in prison for manslaughter. His characterization happens mostly indirectly, through his family's response to his release from prison (they really trust people, don't they?). It is also developed, to a lesser extent, directly, from his "one foot in front of the other" life attitude. He is a rounded and dynamic character. At first he thinks more or less only about himself and does not consider the "bigger picture". By the end of the story, he has come to accept Jim Casy's views on the world at large and plans to organize people against money-hungry employers, even though Jim himself has already been killed because of those same beliefs..