John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath (939) is a novel that explores and highlights modern gender roles of the decade and also portrays Steinbecks modernized ideology towards the traditional patriarchal system during a time of great change. The proletarian novelist displayed his ability to perfectly portray the hardships faced during his experience of The Great Depression, allowing his readers to experience it through the eyes of his detailed and vivid characters. During the Depression there was what seemed to be an atmosphere nearing of womens independence; it was a time of awakening for many women which is something The Grapes of Wrath portrays. The Depression was an era of change, particularly for women as they had to invade the stereotypical male roles and consider employment to attempt to improve life at home. Whilst exploring set gender roles of the thirties Steinbeck reinforces the idea that being a domestic mothe
r forms a surviving function and this is not degrading in any way. He also through Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon goes as far as to point out that the male roles are no more important than that of the women. He expressed how stereotypes created this idea that womens opinions were not as important, particularly through Ma Joad the readers of the thirties would have viewed just how important women are concerning decision-making. Through a detailed analysis of the female characters Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon, as well as criticism within Jenn Williamson His Home is Not the Land and Mimi Gladstein The Indestructible Woman in Faulkner, Hemmingway, and Steinbeck, there are evidential factors revealed that Steinbecks novel had an intense focal point of gender roles and highlights the destruction of Dust Bowl America which reflected the change, creating a need for a more modernized approach to what is considered male and female roles.