d not assumed the role of caretaker and leader, many involve the untimely demise of the Joad family at the expense of the mens unwillingness to leave the Weedpatch camp. To quote from page 125 of The Indestructible Women When the men are disheartened and defeated, the women bear up and take charge, which is very true throughout this novel.The way in which Steinbeck portrays his female characters in The Grapes of Wrath, as caretakers, but also leaders is contrary to their accepted role in the family at that time period and also throughout literature. There have been many misunderstandings of womens roles in the past. Many literary works contain the classic damsel in distress story; everyone grew up with them, the stories where the handsome prince comes to rescue the frail, beautiful and feminine princess, unlike these other stories, The Grapes of Wrath is written as a testament to the strength of all women. If only Shakespeare had known Ma Joad....
