She is transformed into an almost biblical figure as the story parallels the lead of a group of oppressed peoples toward exodus. The ever-increasing rise of the female presence can be observed by examining the text chronologically. The book shifts at the end to focus solely on Ma and the other women's struggles. At the end, when Tom leaves, the book abandons the only other main character to focus on Ma. A man made the first decision in the book and a woman ends up making the final decision by telling Rose of Sharon to offer the breast of a dying person.