Poverty In The Bathtub: Theme Of Life In The Bathtub

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Recommended: poverty and its effects on society

Poverty, a state of being extremely poor, is a recurring theme throughout the movie Beasts of the Southern Wild; furthermore, giving the audience the insight of the ongoing issue that those living in the remote Delta community, The Bathtub, face quite often. The movie portrays poverty as a way of life, and those that live in The Bathtub have adapted to the circumstances of the community while failing to improve their living conditions. When the citizens of The Bathtub have limited resources, living an impoverished lifestyle is not a choice; therefore, it is an adaptation to survive and those living in The Bathtub have limited resources for opportunities for a better life, education, and health care. The Bathtub, a southern
Poverty in The Bathtub was not noticeable because it was a way of life. In the movie every scene had noticeably impoverished living conditions from Wink and Hushpuppies houses to the bar and school-house; however, when it is all that you know; it does not seem like poverty but instead it is a great living. Hushpuppy’s world began with odds piled against her, including a nonexistent mother figure, an alcoholic father, and limited opportunities for growth and development. Hushpuppy yearns for her mother’s love in the movie, and when she is alone in her house Hushpuppy expresses her feelings for her mother. Wink, Hushpuppy’s father, struggles with his health and upbringing of Hushpuppy and drowns his problems in alcohol; therefore, pushing Wink’s priorities away from his child to his addiction and causing more problems for Hushpuppy. Hushpuppy’s early childhood struggles can negatively impact her decision-making through adulthood, and while her transitions from childhood to adolescence and from adolescence to adulthood The Bathtub community will play a major role in her development because of the tight-knit community (Snell
325). Wink faced an unknown medical issue in the film, and his problems were usually handled with alcohol or remedies from Mrs. Bathsheba; therefore, leading the audience to wonder if he had adequate medical attention would he be in his condition. As the movie continues and the government enforces a mandatory evacuation of The Bathtub, Wink faces a huge dilemma as Hushpuppy witnesses her dad lash out at the doctors while they are quarantined at this government facility. Hushpuppy soon witnesses her father slip away into a state he never wanted to be in; therefore, leading the young independent girl into a whirlpool of thoughts and emotions and causing the whole group of citizens from The Bathtub to take a chance to get back home. Wink did not want to be plugged in the wall in his final days, so the others from The Bathtub took him home to his final resting place; however, the adverse reaction to the health care provided to Wink, suggests to the audience that he was not receptive to the help or it was too late to recover. According to James Kirby’s study community characteristics influence access to health care and with the citizens of The Bathtub their access to health care was limited due to their lifestyle choices. When the

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