Poverty and Racism essays

Poverty and Racism essays McCullers addresses poverty and racism of the 1930s South and also of the social and economic crisis that encompassed it during that time. The setting took place in a Southern town whose main economy came from cotton and saw mills and the time was during the Great Depression. Coming out in the 1940s, this novel reflected on the intolerance, poverty and isolation of the South. The characters all addressed at least one aspect of the societys cultural system. During this time blacks, Jews, women and poverty stricken people were looked down upon and often times were thought of as inferior by the society they belonged to. These people also put roles upon themselves as seen with Harry Minowitz, a Jewish boy. He had sex with Mick and soon after felt bad and decided to leave town because of the role that he put on himself as a Jewish person. He though what they did was wrong and he couldnt live with the shame of it, so he left the town and pretty much adopted an out of sight out of mind perception (thats what I think happened anyway). The novel addresses gender roles as seen relating to Mick Kelly. As the story starts, she refuses to be pampered like her sisters do to themselves and she refuses to be lady-like. She dressed like a boy and wore shorts and shirts most of the time. At the end of the novel though she conforms to society and goes along with it and wears a dress. The novel also addresses race and economic injustices. Dr. Copeland feels that all African Americans should unite and reform the way things are in the society and how it acts toward them. Jake Blount, an idealistic workingman and social reformer, brings in aspects of Marxism and wanted to change things for the betterment of the working class. Jake Blount, Dr. Copeland and Mick Kelly all propagate toward Mr. Singer. For Jake, he serves as an audience who would listen to his tirades on socialism and economics. Dr. Copeland tries to help his people...