Pa Joad's Character Decay In The Grapes Of Wrath

Character Decay Throughout The Grapes of Wrath, many of the characters experience growth or decay. Each member of the Joad family is affected differently by the decisions and changes they have to make in their lives. One character that changes for the worse is Pa Joad. By the end of the novel, the reader sees that Pa Joad had lost respect from his family and his status as head of household. By including Pa and his character decay in the novel, Steinbeck contributes to his theme of loss of dignity. It is important to recognize Pa Joad’s transformation in all respects of the book.
In the beginning of the novel, as he sets the tone, Steinbeck gives the image of Pa Joad as a typical farmer. He paints Pa as someone who is in charge, demands