The definitions of the word hero in dictionaries are extremely vague. A standard dictionary limits the definition of hero to "a man of notable courage or skill, admired for his courageous deeds and noble qualities" (Dictionary.com). Heroes are people, not just men, who are generous, courageous, and view every event as part of the whole flow of life rather than a critical moment. Humanity, resilience and perseverance are other critical characteristics of a deserving candidate for such a title. John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath, does a great job of establishing a hero through the character, Ma Joad. As the Joad clan disintegrated under the pressure of dispossession and migration, Ma emerged as a central, cohesive force. Remaining calm, he heroically guided the family on their journey towards the dream of a better life. From the beginning, Ma was a strong woman who had the ability to do anything, like brine a pig. Her past, full of obstacles and suffering, gave her such strength. When you observed Ma, you saw that “her hazel eyes seemed to have experienced all possible tragedies and to have ascended pain and suffering like steps to a heightened calm and superhuman understanding” (Steinbeck 79). The past events in her life have prepared her and made her a resilient woman. Such events may also have given rise to his strong intuition. At first, he doubted the idea of ​​going to California and thought that many people's idea of ​​California as a safe haven was too good to be true. Tom Joad, her son, asked her why she felt this way and she replied: “'I am afraid of such beautiful things. I have no faith. I'm afraid something isn't so nice about it'” (Steinbeck 97). Also... half of the paper... worldly goods. Not only was he the rock of the family, but he was also the pillar of the family that kept them going. Without Mom, the Joad family most likely would not have been able to continue their journey to California and likely would not have survived as long. From start to finish, Mom's strength grew; she started out as a strong woman and ended up as an even stronger woman and although she wasn't the official head of the family due to the patriarchal mentality of the time, she truly lived up to her role as a matriarchal leader and hero. Works Cited Steinbeck, John. The grapes of wrath. New York: Viking Press, 1939. Print." Hero | Define Hero at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find meanings and definitions of at Dictionary.com. Np, nd Web. January 15. 2011. .