Overcoming Adversity The novel Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck is seen as a rather pessimistic novel with many hardships and difficulties. However, it can also be seen as a sign of hope for the adversities still to come and for the adversities still faced in our world today. Throughout the Joad’s journey to California, the reader can see many signs of hope portrayed through the family's actions, words, and relationships with people all around them. One of the most apparent signs of hope in this novel is the family always looking out for each other and doing what is best for the good of the group. We see that they don’t run away from their fears and from the unknown; they face them head on, always staying together to protect their family. After being apart from Tom for so long, Ma refused to leave him behind and let him go off on his own. Instead she protected him, found him a place to go, and made him food. Ma, especially cared for Tom so much…show more content… It didn’t matter how tired, exhausted, or sick one was feeling because they kept pushing, knowing that without a job they couldn’t keep their family alive. Even when they felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel, they kept pushing through, never stopping the search until they found work and made money. Pa says, “We been a-lookin’ Ma. Been goin’ in ever’ gate, walkin’ up to ever’ house, even when we knowed they wasn’t gonna be nothin’” (Steinbeck 350). Ma always kept up the family telling them they had no right to be discouraged. The boys kept looking for work because they knew they couldn’t afford to watch the family starve. “You got to have patience. Why, Tom--us people will go on livin’ when all them people is gone. Why, Tom, we’re the people that live. They ain’t gonna wipe us out. Why, we’re the people--we go on” (Steinbeck 280). Ma is the encourager, refusing to let the family give
