Al Joad's Destiny

Follows Al Joad's transition from a carefree, girl-chasing teenager to a responsible young man engaged to be married.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Smart Aleck

The Youth The Character Al Joad is sixteen, cocky, and obsessed with girls and cars. He is a good mechanic but immature. He struts and boasts. He is the family's driver. The Role Al is responsible for the truck. He takes pride in his mechanical skills. He is essential to the family's mobility. But he is also restless. The Dreams Al dreams of getting a job in a garage and living in town. He wants independence. He is not fully committed to the family's struggle.

The Courtship

The Romance Meeting Aggie At the boxcar camp, Al meets Aggie Wainwright. He is immediately attracted. They begin seeing each other every night. Al is smitten. The Commitment Al decides to marry Aggie. He tells his family. He plans to get a job in a garage and settle down. He is ready to take responsibility. The Change Al's engagement marks his transition to adulthood. He is no longer the carefree boy. He is willing to work for a future. His destiny is now tied to Aggie.

The Decision to Stay

The Loyalty The Flood When the flood threatens, Al wants to stay with Aggie. He refuses to leave without her. He is torn between family and his new love. The Compromise Ma Joad asks Al to stay until spring. He agrees. He will remain with the family for now, but his future is with Aggie. He is committed to both. The Future Al's destiny is to build a new life. He represents the next generation. His marriage will create a new family unit. The Joad line continues through him.

early in the story

at the boxcar camp

during the flood