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In this world the introduction of life marks the beginning of death. It is only a matter of how long before this cycle is completed, when man returns to the very ground which gave him breath. Life is a continual struggle; either man chooses to retaliate, adapt, and survive, or hasten destruction. Thrust into life threatening circumstances, men will choose to fight – they possess an innate will and capacity to defend themselves. Therefore, they will survive. This idea provides a strong central theme for John Steinbeck’s literary work The Grapes of Wrath. However, it is actually the unity of all people which sustains individuals through hardship. Steinbeck suggests that the family first establish its members, providing a solid foundation for humankind unity. Without the cooperation of its members, the family cannot function. If the family cannot function, then the larger whole cannot possibly function. At the beginning of the story, the men are responsible for running the family. When making important decisions, they squat in a circle while the women stand supportively behind their husbands (Hinton 2). Pa and the ragged Grandpa are the eldest active leaders, and Tom acquires an influential role, particularly in his younge