Roseasharn of the Trail-Grapes of Wrath Chapters 18-24

In the chapters the family goes a lot with their arrival in California. They are unable to find any work and a goof place to live. They are short on food and the local law enforcement is not on their side. All through this the characters stay strong and fight through the obstacles and help each other out. To me one of the strongest characters is Roseasharn. Sometimes while reading it is easy to forget the pregnant girl in the back just struggling along with everyone else. She endures the hard journey and all the suffering and heartbreak while being pregnant. She can be related to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Like Mary, Roseasharn has to endure a long and trial filled journey while carrying her child. She has to face no places to stay and people all around not being kind. Mar is a symbol of strength to many women in the world and I think Roseasharn embodies that same strength. She comes across very clean and virtuous. “ 'I like dancin', squar' dancin'.' And she added virtuously, 'I never done that other kind' ”(396). Here the word virtuously is even used to describe her actions, making the image stonger. “Rose fo Sharon sat down heavily on a box and regarded her wedding shoes, black patent eather and tailored black bows. She wiped the toes with her finger and wiped her finger on the inside of her skirt. Leaning down put pressure on her growing abdomen. She sat up straight and touched herself with exploring fingers, and she smiled a little as she did it”(395). Her it is seen that she is happy with her decision to marry and to become pregnant. Like Mary she accepts her role on the journey and what she must do, but she never looses sight of what is important to her.