In the personal essay “Context” (1994), the author, Dorothy Allison, explores the difference in lifestyles of the prosperous, sophisticated people and poorer, less fortunate people. Allison develops this by comparing her impecunious childhood with the privileged youth of her lover. Allison emphasizes her lack of certain experiences as child in order to give readers a vivid understanding of what was “normal” or a context for her. This essay is mainly directed towards people who are quick to judge how someone speaks or acts without having a thorough understanding of their context and what they consider as “normal”. I am enthralled after reading this particular essay. I think about myself and wonder if I ever get bewildered due to how a person
Societal expectations can command many aspects of a person’s life. Appearance, possessions, career paths, mood and behavior are all things than can be affected by social pressures. Society can also affect the way people perceive success, and in today’s economic landscape success is mostly measured by accumulated wealth and comfort. Without those things, the weight of society can become heavy and those with economic or social hardship may find solace in disregarding their reality all together. Two of Tennessee Williams’ most highly praised plays, The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, share a common theme; escaping reality instead of confronting the adversity placed before you. Williams explores this premise through similarities and differences of two characters, Blanche DuBois and Amanda Wingfield.
Wetchler and Hecker (2015) identified larger contexts surrounding family units, including both social and physical environment, as having a large potential impact. With little education amongst the family, much of their income is either made from illegal activity, jobs that they may not want to do (exotic dancing, prostitution), or low-paying wages. The environment that encompasses offers few escapes from this reality, and has a strong effect on the family system. One example of this would be younger sibling Karl’s awareness of his and his family’s socioeconomic status, and being drawn into the thrill and quick money of dealing
In many ways, Author Wes and Other Wes had very similar negative characteristics such as performing below standards in academics. However, as a result of Author Wes’s financial sacrifices and mental support from his mother, he overcame his struggles and reformed himself in military school to become a progressive citizen. This example of how important a person’s surroundings is to living a successful life relates to many if not all people. One must be given a sufficient and supporting surrounding in order to build the characteristics and mindset to lead a successful life. It is imperative to have a balance of knowledge in subjects taught at school and people who inspire and support you in life. You must not only be a self sufficient human being but also have a sufficient environment to have a fulfilling
Having a family of low socioeconomic status inevitably leaves me to reside in a low-income neighborhood which makes it more likely for me to witness the tragedies, adversities and hardships that people go through [not excluding myself]. Being conscious of this kind of environment, and these kinds of events, creates a pressure on me for having the aim to achieve social mobility in order to escape the aforementioned environment so that my own children could witness one less abominable aspect of life. Moreover, my family’s low socioeconomic status does not authorize me the privilege of being raised with the concerted cultivation method that kids of high socioeconomic status are more prone to being raised in. My family did not have the financial resources that granted us access to extra classes or lessons of instrumental classes, swimming practices, karate practices, or any other extracurricular activities that people of high socioeconomic status would be able to afford. This invisible fence that prevents me from these extracurricular activities enables me to having more appreciation towards the hobbies and talents that other people have. Plus, the fact that my family’s low socioeconomic status acts as a barrier from enjoying expensive luxuries in life creates a yearning [in me] to enjoy them later on in my life, in addition to acting as the fuel to my wish of achieving social mobility in anticipation of providing my own children with the luxurious vacations, gadgets, beachhouse, new cars that I could not
In this analysis includes a summary of the characters and the issues they are dealing with, as well as concepts that are seen that we have discussed in class. Such as stereotyping and the lack of discrimination and prejudice, then finally I suggest a few actions that can be taken to help solve the issues at hand, allowing the involved parties to explain their positions and give them a few immersion opportunities to experience their individual cultures.
the author uses a variety of emotions and moods. As well as that, I am
Before Martha Stewart was Martha Stewart the megabrand, there was Dorothy Draper, the queen of decorating and Good Housekeeping’s design Director. She shot to fame with her 1939 book “Decorating Is Fun!”.
In “Another Holiday for the Prince” by Elizabeth Jolley the author draws upon many themes, one in particular that Jolley illustrates is how poverty influences changes in the individual lives within one family. To begin with the head of the family; a father is never mentioned in the story, not even once. But by not having a father figure in the story the reader can understand a lot. In society the man is the one who earns the money and provides all the essentials for his family, however this story is presented in a society were the mother has to be the man of the family. Ones self-esteem can be diminished as a result of poverty, alienation; destructive effects of a week personality or society on the individual. The author effectively conveys this theme through the use of characterization, symbolism and contrast.
Ever since she was a young girl. Jeannette had set high goals for herself. Since she was so advanced in school and genuinely enjoyed learning, it made sense that she would want to do big things with her life. Whether it was being a veterinarian or a geologist, her dreams extended far beyond her homes in little desert towns or Welch, West Virginia. However, because of her poverty-stricken home life, many people believed it didn’t seem likely that she would be so successful. One day, while living in Welch, Jeannette goes to the bar to drag her drunk father back home. A neighborhood man offers them a ride back to their house, and on the ride up he and Jeannette start a conversation about school. When Jeannette tells the man that she works so hard in school because of her dream careers, the man laughs saying, “for the daughter of the town drunk, you sure got big plans” (Walls 183). Immediately, Jeannette tells the man to stop the car and gets out, taking her father with her. This seems to be a defining moment in which Jeannette is first exposed to the idea that she is inferior to others. Although this man said what he did not mean to offend her, Jeannette is clearly very hurt by his comment. To the reader, it seems as if she had never thought that her family’s situation made her subordinate to those
...stic things in order to live a better, more sound, and overall healthier life. Juxtaposition makes the audience want to follow through with the purpose. Exemplification causes the audience to realize the extent of their materialistic nature. A definition of the average homeless person’s terms allows him to build his ethos and consequently allow the audience to believe and follow his purpose. A majority of people are a part of the middle class, and this majority tends to judge the poor for their lifestyle whether it be through Dumpster diving or begging on the streets. However, as proven by the essay, these people have no right to do so because the poor do, in reality, have a greater sense of self than these middle-class people, similar to the rich. The middle-class citizens must no longer act the victim; instead, they should be working on becoming more sentimental.
Dorothy Allison in the book “Context” suggests that her girlfriend might not accept and even reject her for the social economic class that she comes from against the social class of her lover. The author has fears in scenarios which her soulmate looks at her differently, through a new view, in a new visual and mental sense that she might have hatred and not remain as close as before. The Author anxiety about rejection and coming from the “working class” that in order to be accepted as equals, they need to have similar economic class. The insecurities and lifestyle highlight by her is intended for people who are in or come from the lower class, as the lower class suffers from the same insecurity in everyday life fearing they might be mocked
People with a lower socioeconomic status convey the impression that they rely on their culture to help them with the world or their lives. Which, in turn, shapes what they value. For example, in “Everyday Use”, the mother states, “I had offered Dee (Wangero) a quilt when she went away to college. Then she had told me they were old-fashioned, out of style” (SB page 64). The mother has a low economic status and she believed that the quilts could help Dee but Dee, who has a higher socioeconomic status thinks the complete opposite. This shows that people with less attachment with money will decide to rely and value on cultural items (quilts specifically in “Everyday use”) to aid them in life. Another example, in “My mother pieced quilts”,
In “Paul’s Case” and “The Garden Party,” two authors describe efforts by ripening young adults to shelter themselves from the horrors of everyday realities. Whereas Paul isolates himself the mediocrities present in the working class, Laura begins her struggle as spoiled and isolated in a mansion and, thus, tries to distance herself from her elitist family.
Every kid in the family loved going to Aunt Nell’s house. Who would not want to spend the summer with a huge inground pool, Corvette in the garage, central air conditioning in a red brick house in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Cincinnati? Aunt Nell was a sweet, but stern older lady that never missed Sunday church. Her house will go down in our family’s history as being the best places to spend the hot days of summer.
Dick Gregory, the writer of “Shame”, emphasizes the account of his childhood experiences of poverty and shame. Gregory uses powerful insight to offer vision into the human condition of his childhood. The acknowledgement of shame brought to light at a young age by a teacher, a person that is expected to encourage and persuade others to be successful, humiliates him in front of his peers, making him look and feel “stupid”. “There was shame there”. “Now there was shame everywhere”. Additionally, his writing uses symbolism about a girl in his class named, Helene Tucker, being everything he wanted. Furthermore, in this narrative, he writes about this classmate to persuade the reader to understand why his environment is unfavorable. I felt