Ma is depressed because which relatives are not with them?

• A. Granpa and Granma
• B. Connie and Noah
• C. Granpa, Granma, Connie and Noah
• D. Tom and Winfield

Answer: (C)

Ma Joad’s mood hinges on the ones who are with the family and those who aren’t. When key relatives aren’t along for the journey, she feels the weight of separation and fragility in the group, which pulls her into depression. The missing figures here are the elderly grandparents, Granpa and Granma, and two of her children, Connie and Noah. Their absence signals losses and fractures within the family at a time of extreme hardship, amplifying Ma’s worry about keeping everyone safe and together as they press toward California. Ma is the emotional anchor of the clan, so when relatives are not present, the sense of vulnerability and the burden of trying to hold the family together become overwhelming.