Relationships
Al really looks up to Grampa but isn’t greatly sure why; possibly because they’re both ‘hellers’. Grampa has looked after all the kids since they were young and Al has lots of happy memories with him which is why when Grampa dies, Al is upset.
Al→Granma
Al views Granma and Grampa quite similarly although after the death of Grampa, he’s stronger when it comes to her death. They have little relationship to show because they don’t talk to each other throughout the play.
Al→Pa
Al has a good relationship with his Dad, when Tom went away they would have bonded as Al became the man of the house, and more so bonded over dealing with the truck. Although when Tom comes home, Al gets moved down in the Family hierarchy and so the relationship isn’t quite as strong.
Al→Ma
Like Pa, Al would have had a good relationship with his Mum before the return of Tom. However, when Tom returns, Ma doesn’t try to hide that she prefers Tom; even at the end of the play when Al isn’t going with the family, their last conversation is about the return of Tom, and so I think Ma and Al have quite a neutral relationship, Al still tries to do more for his Mum but there isn’t much there, she doesn’t feel the same way.
Al→Uncle John
Uncle John and Al get on really well throughout the play; they both take an interest in the truck, in women and overall Al quite likes Uncle John because their relationship doesn’t change when Tom comes home. Al looks up to him.
Al→Noah
Even though Noah is older than Al, Al was able to become the man of the house because Noah has a disability, and so Al takes more responsibility and more of a manly role than Noah. Although, they are still brothers and so Al looks out for Noah, mostly because of his disability. When Noah leaves, Al isn’t too bothered, it’s just one less responsibility, and after the death of Grampa, Al sees the family deteriorating anyway.
Al→Tom
Al is annoyed by Tom’s return. Al was always the man of house since the age of 12 and so when Tom returns, Al is really shocked he’s so easily knocked down in the Family hierarchy so quickly, especially because he’s paroled and didn’t “bust loose” like the Joads expect him too. If they wasn’t brothers, I think there would actually be a point were they’d be willing to fight each other but it’s because they’re brothers, they stick together when they need too and Al is willing to help out when Tom knocks down the Deputy.
Al→Casy
Al and Casy don’t have much of a relationship, to Al, Casy is just a friend of his brother, Tom (and he’s not even that fond of his brother anyway); Al even thinks it’s best Casy doesn’t go to California with the Joads and tries to tell his Mum this. However Al finds respect for Casy when he kicks the Deputy, but this is short lived as Casy shouts him down for hanging around, to which Al thinks he’s a “fool”.
Al→Rose of Sharon
Rose is Al’s sister, he tries to look out for her, especially with Connie, and when Grampa dies but they live very separate lives; Rose of Sharon would spend a lot of time at the River’s house whilst Al would spend a lot of time out with girls. This is why they so easily fall out when Al over hears she wants him to work for Connie in the future however when Connie leaves, Al wants to comfort his sister and feels he must for fill his brotherly role again.
Al→Connie
Al’s quite edgy around Connie, he wants the best for his sister and wont let Connie mess her around, however in act 2, after all the Family’s been through, Al doesn’t really care about Connie’s exit; he has messed Rose of Sharon about enough and Al thinks it’d be best if he was gone, and Al’s thinking of leaving the Family any way if he can find a girl.
*(Al and Connie’s relationship may now change as Jake wants to play Connie differently)
*(The new way Connie’s played is below)
Prior to the play, Al is the man of the House and so defiantly feels more power over Connie, this feeling doesn’t change even on Tom’s return. Al’s quite edgy around Connie but only to keep him in his place, this is why when he leaves, Al feels he needs to comfort Rose of Sharon; Al thinks that maybe it was partly his fault for Connie leaving the Family, that maybe Al had given him too hard a time. However Al doesn’t over think this too much because of all the Family’s been through by this point, he has bigger things to worry about and so the best he can do is be there for his sister once more.
Al→Winfield
Winfield is the youngest of the Joads. Like the rest of the siblings, Al looks out for him but Al spends little time with him as he is normally out with girls and Winfield’s alittle too young to relate. Throughout the play the two bond, over Grampa’s death, and just in general. Winfield is also another character that doesn’t view Al differently after Tom’s return (this is because he would have been too young to remember Tom before he went to jail).
Al→Al’s girl
Al and Al’s girl are in a relationship (for alittle while). He goes on about how much he loves her but really he’s more in love with her body; to him, she’s just another girl, among plenty. They talk about marriage but it’s really a false promise and this wouldn’t have been the first time Al’s promised a girl marriage and so isn’t too eager to talk about it.
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