John Steinbeck uses plot and juxtaposition in Grapes of Wrath to paint a picture of the character, Rose of Sharon, because it helps display her maturation into a maternal figure through her thoughts and actions portrayed in scenes in the text. In the beginning of the novel Rose of Sharon, also known as Rosaharn, is described to be a pregnant, naïve girl who claims she is “pleased with herself” and “complain[s] about things that don't really matter” (Stienbeck 13.52). When her husband, Connie, abandons her, Roseharn is left weak and emotionally fragile. Her constant concern about Connie not returning drives her to an emotional instability due to always being dependent over him. These emotions ultimately blind her from logical thinking and she
