When the novel begins, Tom Joad, the protagonist of the story, has just been released from Oklahoma State Prison. He returns home to his family and discovers that the area is deserted and that everyone is being “towed” out of the territory. Most families, including Tom's, head to California in search of new jobs and a new life. Tom reunites with his family and they decide to take a huge risk by abandoning the land to which they have been attached for generations. This uprooting from their family marks the beginning of a long, slow shift in identity for many family members as well as family dynamics and structure. Previously, the Joad family relied on a traditional family structure in which men worked outside the home and made decisions while women obediently did as they were told and took care of the house and house. the education of children. An example that shows how invested they are in these roles is how everyone continues to honor the grandfather as the head of the family despite the fact that he has outlived his ability to act as a leader solid, becoming just another person to feed and care for. . Many stick to a traditional family structure even in times of duress and pressure because it brings them comfort. Some families struggle with flexibility, and research has shown that allowing yourself and others to change and adapt can be very healthy. (Price & Price, 2005) As the Joads continue their journey west to try to find work in California, the family dynamic changes a bit. Dad becomes discouraged and begins to feel defeated by his increasing failures. He eventually retreats into his role as head of the family and finds himself overwhelmed by a sort of identity crisis. The painful loss of personal identity is a common theme of human existence ... middle of paper ... world, but one can only achieve "wholeness" by devoting oneself to one's fellow human beings. He matures under stress and commits to improving his future and that of his family. After seeing so much injustice, he finally realizes that “his” people are all human beings. He can't stand working for the well-being of his family if it means taking another family's job. He ended up leaving his family to embark on public action. With his rational and calm temperament, it's no wonder he handles such inhumane treatment so well. I suppose he would become an effective political leader if there were to be a sequel to the story. Overall, this is a story focused entirely on what it means to be a family, what humans need to survive, and the idea of ​​human weakness in self-interest. Families are truly the foundation not only of society, but of humanity...