time when the Joads are on their first day of travel. The passage describes Rose of Sharon, She was pleased with herself, and she complained about things that didnt really matter. And she demanded services of Connie that were silly. When one compares this early description of Rose of Sharon to a later passage on page 380, that shows her stubbornly insisting that she is going to pick cotton along with everyone else even though it is cold and may start raining, one sees the stark contrast and the drastic change that has occurred. Even, or especially if, one was to compare the early description of her with her selfless action concluding the book, you will see this exorbitant change and contrast.The typical role of women in the nineteen thirties is one associated with housewifery, child bearing/raising and the cult of domesticity. The man of this time was the breadwinner, where the women generally stayed at home and did the menial tasks that follow the position of full-time homemaker. During the depression they were expected to do even more work taking care of growing gardens and providing inexpensive meals from gardens, as well as supplementing family income with extra tasks. The Joads broke away from this male dominated family structure. Maybe not per say because they were a different type of family and, therefore, more accepting, but that the situation was one of need, and the women of the Joad family saw the need and did something about it when the men no longer wanted to think. Hence, the Joad family progressed from the traditional patriarchal domination to one of matriarchal domination.Ma assumes the role of matriarch initially without intending to. On page 81, Ma and Tom are conversing, it is soon after he had gotten home and the preacher inquires if he can come to California with the Joads, Ma looked to Tom to speak, because he was a man, but Tom did not speak. She let him have the chance that was his right, and then she said, Why...
