The Street by Ann Petry was first published in 1948, and it gives an account of the lives of black women in the World War II era. Being a black woman herself, Petra gives a firsthand commentary about the social injustices that face the main character in the novel, Lutie Johnson. Lutie is a black single mother who faces social challenges such as sexism, racism, and classism in her chase for the American dream. In her chronicles of raising her son, Bub, she believes that if she works hard, and saves wisely she will realize her dream of gaining financial independence and in 116th street, Harlem, where she lives. The novel gives the streets a personality as if it were a humans being. This personification and other literal styles including naturalism …show more content…
and setting have played an important role in the novel in showing how life in the 1940’s was hard for black people and was even harder for women for being women, which will be the main focus of this essay. Although the main focus of the novel is on the internal experiences of the characters, it also paints a picture of the life of a woman living in Harlem during the 1940s. The Street is a story about struggle and defeat. Lutie Johnson struggles to find a safe place where she can raise her son in a city where the youth are likely to fall prey to many vices including violence, prostitution, and poverty. Jim, her father’s son, is unemployed and stays home to care of Bub and every month she has to send money to Jim for their upkeep and mortgage (Petry 28). At the time the book was published, it was hard for men to find jobs and the females were better off working. This often resulted in broken marriages, since the women were never home to take care of their duties of being a mother and being a wife. The men would cheat on them with other women, something that happened to Lutie (Petry 30). Being black meant that she could not get any decent job and the job that she had in a white man’s house as a domestic worker barely covered their expenses. She faces a lot of hostility from white people, including white women. Harlem is the only place she feels at home, and she faces intense hostility from white women downtown and in the subway who stare at her long brown legs in a cunning way (Petry 57). It had been hard for her to get her current job being a black woman and not having any references. She ended up doing hard mere jobs such as a hand presser in a steam laundry. The novel represents the black woman as strong and resilient despite many odds against her. Although her job is difficult at the steam laundry, she enrolls to study shorthand, typing, and filing. Despite the society subscribing to the thought that black women ought to be washing utensils and cleaning other people houses, she is determined to make something good out of herself (Petry 56). The 1940s confined women to the kitchen, but when Jim could not get a job, Lutie had to step up especially because they could not afford their mortgage and risked losing their house. What is more disheartening, during this time the roles of women were changing rapidly since most men went away to serve in the army and left the women behind. The Personification of the Streets Petry uses personification in an attempt to help the reader to understand the relationship between the street and Lutie Johnson. Even the audience knows the character of the story they are introduced to on 116th Street in Harlem. She describes the wind as if it were a person; “it did everything to discourage the people walking along the street.” (Petry 2). In addition, she continues to describe how the wind in the street is fierce and pulled people’s hats, pried their scarfs, and stuck its fingers under the collars of their coats. She personifies the wind as to having fingers like a human being, which creates tension and an eerie tone in the story. The wind blew dust which got into people’s noses making it hard for them to breath. This shows the hostility in the environment that Lutie lives in, which is almost inhabitable. It creates imagery of what Lutie had to go through to survive. Petry describes how Lutie’s hair was resting warmly behind her neck, but the wind blows it away as if maliciously making her feel bald and naked (Petry 2). This gives a perspective on how Lutie feels about her new setting which is hostile and aggressive. As mentioned previously, the streets discourage people from walking on it, giving it a personality of thwarting people away. The streets of Harlem are filthy, and the wind works so hard to blow the filth to people’s doorsteps. Ann Petry presents the idea that no matter what life throws at Lutie; and the other black people living in the street, they are resilient. Women in the 1940s came to the realization that they could have control of their lives since they already could manage being alone after being deserted by their husbands who had gone to serve in the army. This same attitude is what drives Lutie who is determined to change her fate that the society had prescribed for black people. The wind represents the forces of racial inequality and poverty that faces the black people who live in Harlem in the 1940s. The wind is a reflection of the aggressive attitude of many white people towards African Americans during this time. These social injustices have a chilling effect on the urban-dwelling of the novel. The buildings are dilapidated, and the street is poverty stricken and Lutie is only there because she has no other choice (Petry 3). There is a lot of discrimination and the Chandler’s who employ her as a nanny, to take care of their son, are a representation of the rich white people who discriminate openly discriminate the black community. Soon, she learns that her husband Jim, whom she sends her hard earned money, is living with another woman. This is some of the “filth” that life “blows” at her. The Setting Petry opens the novel with a detailed account of the environment that Lutie lives in, and she repeatedly uses the phrase “dirt and dust and grime.” The environment as described is unappealing to the reader, and when paired with the poverty that Lutie lives in, it creates a perfect picture of the social and economic problems that African Americans faced in the 1940s.
Lutie gets an apartment in a building that is in a sorry state, and the tenants are possible drunks who can afford to pay the rent, but could possibly become violent (Petry 4). The first person she meets in the building is Mrs. Hedges who runs a prostitution whore house. This operation takes advantage of depressed and impoverished women who want to escape the realities of living in the ghetto. The residents of the 166th street are poor and wrestled down by life circumstances. It is a representation of many black people who lived in the 1940s. Lutie is searching for an apartment to live with her son as his father has moved in with a new woman who is giving him alcohol. This new neighborhood does not seem any …show more content…
better. Petry Drives Her Agenda Using Naturalism Naturalist works on the idea that the character of a person highly depends on the genes and the environment they are in.
As the novel starts, Lutie is portrayed as a persistent and strong woman who can outdo whatever life throws at her. Although describing conditions of Harlem at the start of the novel is a way to get the attention of the reader and explain the plight of black women, Petry gains the sympathy of the readers. The characters in the novel do not have the luxury of free will and whatever conditions they are living in is a consequence of racism. She had applied for the nanny job only because the post did not have a “white only” label (Petry 31). This is clear indication that there were jobs for the white people and the blacks; however, it is most likely that the blacks are only wanted for mere jobs such as nannies or shining shoes, as Lutie’s son had
started. The environment that she is lives in slowly wears down her determination. She feels a fierce hatred and resentment towards the white people, and the Black environment she is living in. She seems to transform like many other women living in the street who simply give up and turn to vices such as prostitution. Although she does not turn to prostitution, she starts becoming disillusioned that the street is sucking them (Petry 324). She gives up on his son and moves to Chicago. Genetically, the characters in the novel are black, but being black does not bring poverty with it; racism does that as presented Petry’s novel.
To the urban lifestyle of growing up in the ghettos and the hardships. She depicts the usages of drugs, gang, crime, poverty, teen pregnancy and mostly how it effects the community. But also shows how the outside violence comes into the home and can devastate the natural order of the household.
The families living conditions were horrible. They lived in a very small apartment which at times had more than ten people living in it. Since LaJoe was a very friendly and considerate person, she brought many kids and adults "under her wing" and took care of them when in need. Some kids in the neighborhood even called her "mom." LaJoe did not have the heart to turn her back on anyone that appeared at her door.
As Janie is growing up she has to learn to accept her Nanny’s belief of how a woman is supposed to live in society. Nanny grew up in slavery so she believes that the role of men is to support his wife financially. Nanny thinks Janie should marry a man according to how successful he is and Janie should keep up the household responsibilities. Janie’s grandmother said, “Ah been waitin’ a long time, Janie, but nothin’ Ah I
Do we speak with a purpose? Are we using our words to make a difference? In today’s world, everyone uses language to express the way they feel. By doing this, we not only create feeling but we beautifully deepen and clarify them. It’s how we use our words; that makes what we say special. They can have a major impact on someone or something. Kay Ryan’s poem “Those Places” uses language that influences the entire course of her poem. In fact, Kay Ryan is very careful with her word choice because she knows it will be significant to the meaning of her writing. In her poem, “Those Places” Kay Ryan uses literal language to get to a metaphorical meaning.
The short story is set in the period of The Great Depression, and lower classes especially struggled in this hard time. The Great Depression attacked the nation by society class. The lower levels struggled even more than usual. Lizbeth lived in a small rural town with a few members of her family. Her father and mother worked all day and Lizbeth and her brother, Joey, would hang out with other teenagers in their community to waste the daylight. The community always helped each other out but there was this one woman, Miss Lottie who played an important role in young Lizbeth’s
The vicious cycle created by the code of streets that Elijah Anderson discusses is never ending. Anderson brings up many different factors in the cycle that keep it going, only inhancing crime. Every example the author brought up were actions used to gain respect in the streets. Kids are raised around the violence and are then encouraged by their parents to keep the cycle going. The kids are taught to defend themselves and always win the fight. They have to win fights, be violent and act tough to gain respect. Their accomplishments in violence hold their respect status in the streets. Learning to fight like this and continue the violence cycle then gives people on the streets low tolerance. They are easy to lash out. All of these examples
...is was an excellent book that discussed a lot of information. This book is about how inner city people live and try and survive by living with the code of the streets. Within the book in each chapter it talks about every aspect of the street code with great information on each topic. The information that each chapter discusses are the, Street and decent families, respect, drugs violence, street crime, the decent daddy, the mating game, and the black inner city grandmother. Each one of these chapters has major points and good information within them and I would personally want anyone to read this book because it helps you understand and give you a better view into someone else’s world.
All through their lives Pharoah and LaFayette are surrounded by violence and poverty. Their neighborhood had no banks, no public libraries no movie theatres, no skating rinks or bowling allies. Drug abuse was so rampant that the drug lords literally kept shop in an abondoned building in the progjects, and shooting was everywhere. Also, there were no drug rehabilitation programs or centers to help combat the problem. Police feared going into the ghetto out of a fear for their own safety. The book follows Pharoah and LaFayette over a two year period in which they struggle with school, attempt to resist the lure of gangs, mourn the death of close friends, and still find the courage to search for a quiet inner peace, that most people take for granted.
The story also focuses in on Ruth Younger the wife of Walter Lee, it shows the place she holds in the house and the position she holds to her husband. Walter looks at Ruth as though he is her superior; he only goes to her for help when he wants to sweet talk his mama into giving him the money. Mama on the other hand holds power over her son and doesn’t allow him to treat her or any women like the way he tries to with Ruth. Women in this story show progress in women equality, but when reading you can tell there isn’t much hope and support in their fight. For example Beneatha is going to college to become a doctor and she is often doubted in succeeding all due to the fact that she is black African American woman, her going to college in general was odd in most people’s eyes at the time “a waste of money” they would say, at least that’s what her brother would say. Another example where Beneatha is degraded is when she’s with her boyfriend George Murchison whom merely just looks at her as arm
The role of women in a black society is a major theme of this novel. Many women help demonstrate Hurston's ideas. Hurston uses Janie's grandmother, Nanny, to show one extreme of women in a black society, the women who follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. Nanny is stuck in the past. She still believes in all the things that used to be, and wants to keep things the way they were, but also desires a better life for her granddaughter than she had. When Nanny catc...
Ann Petry’s The Street In our society today, there are many images that are portrayed through media and through personal experience that speak to the issues of black motherhood, marriage and the black family. Wherever one turns, there is the image of the black woman in the projects and very rarely the image of successful black women. Even when these positive images are portrayed, it is almost in a manner that speaks to the supposed inferiority of black women.
Her search eventually takes her to Chicago, where many of her former fellow sharecroppers from Clarksdale reside. Ruby Daniels personifies many of the issues that plague blacks, such as illegitimate children, drug use, and job insecurity. Ruby also reinforced stereotypes of single black mothers of the time, having been reliant on public aid. When considering the systematic discrimination Ruby experienced, the reader is left wondering if poverty is at all the fault of the individual, or a result of social pathologies hindering blacks and the
Mama Younger has lived in the same ‘house’ for years, but not willingly. When finally presented with the chance of moving her family out of the small cramped room, she naturally takes it, only to soon realize the prices in the ‘colored neighborhoods’ are too overpriced. Seeing this, Mama then takes her search elsewhere and comes across a perfect house, the only problem being that it was in a white neighborhood. When the people in this neighborhood heard of the African American family moving into a house, they send a man named Linden to show their displeasure. “‘I want you to believe me when I tell you that race prejudice simply doesn’t enter into it. It is a matter of the people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrongly, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities.’”(pg 117) This quote suggests that the easiest thing the Younger family can do is to sell the house to avoid confrontation. Because of their ethnicity the Younger family is automatically rejected from the welcoming committee of Clybourne Park, even though Linden says race does not play a role in their decision to ask them to move
Once Janie was of age to have serious relationships, Janie’s grandmother tried to guide Janie in the direction of the upper class and money. The point was so that Janie would never have to work a day in her life and only have to fulfill her normal housewife duties. But once word got
The author distinguishes white people as privileged and respectful compare to mulattos and blacks. In the racial society, white people have the right to get any high-class position in job or live any places. In the story, all white characters are noble such as Judge Straight lawyer, Doctor Green, business-man George, and former slaveholder Mrs. Tryon. Moreover, the author also states the racial distinction of whites on mulattos. For example, when Dr. Green talks to Tryon, “‘The niggers,’…, ‘are getting mighty trifling since they’ve been freed. Before the war, that boy would have been around there and back before you could say Jack Robinson; now, the lazy rascal takes his time just like a white man.’ ” (73) Additionally, in the old society, most white people often disdained and looked down on mulattos. Even though there were some whites respected colored people friendly, there were no way for colored people to stand parallel with whites’ high class positions. The story has demonstrations that Judge Straight accepted John as his assistant, Mrs. Tryon honor interviewed Rena, and George finally changed and decided to marry Rena; however, the discrimination is inevitable. For example, when Mrs. Tryon heard Rena was colored, she was disappointed. “The lady, who had been studying her as closely as good manners would permit, sighed regretfully.” (161) There, Mrs. Tryon might have a good plan for Rena, but the racial society would not accept; since Rena was a mulatto, Mrs. Tryon could not do anything to help Rena in white social life. The racial circumstance does not only apply on mulattos, but it also expresses the suffering of black people.