Ensemble Dark Horse: Ma Joad in the 1940 film, has her share of fans for her actress, Jane Darwell having an Academy-Award winning performance, and her character being a protective, responsible and loving mother. Plus she's basically responsible for keep the majority of the family together. Not just to her family but for the other poor people who have to suffer their pain as well.
Everyone Is Jesus in Purgatory: John Steinbeck stated that there are five levels to the story. Presumably, one is the tale of the Joads themselves, one is the Depression, one is man's inhumanity to man in general, one is why there are so many biblical references, and one . . . Who knows?
Harsher in Hindsight: The book has many themes that are still relevant today. Especially for the US which suffered a heavy recession in 2008, and is currently suffering from water shortages and other socioeconomic problems, that are making lives difficult for many. It's arguably because of this that the book is still banned in many schools and other places to this day.
Heartwarming in Hindsight: In the near-to-medium term, World War II led to massive expansion in manufacturing and a decades-long building boom in Southern California, so the characters from the book (minus Tom) would have had a prosperous future ahead of them. Of course, neither they nor the author could know that by the time the novel was published.
Memetic Mutation: Ma's resolute speech as the Joad family's on their way to California.
