Analysis Of Under The Lion's Paw, By Hamlin Garland

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Author Hamlin Garland was born in Wisconsin in 1860 and published Main Travelled Roads in 1891. Garland’s father was a Western farmer who moved his family to Iowa in hope of a better life. During Garland’s childhood, his family always struggled economically. In an article titled “Hamlin Garland,” it states that this is what led him to record the physical oppression and economic frustrations on farms in the West (Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). In addition, Garland was also influenced by his Populist Party beliefs. When Garland moved to Boston in 1884, he met prominent philosophers and economists, Herbert Spencer and Henry George. According to the author of the article “Hamlin Garland,” he became immersed in their ideas about farm life …show more content…

In the short story “Under the Lion’s Paw,” Garland depicts the Haskins family as being victims of unfair trade. This is evident when Tim Haskins says, “’What!’ almost shrieked the astounded Haskins. ‘What’s that? Five thousand? Why, that’s double what you offered it for three years ago’” (Garland 142). Tim Haskins was surprised that he was being forced to pay more money even though the original trade was much less. This physically effects Tim Haskins because he put all the long hours in to improve the farm and the price was still raised. He complains, “You hadn’t added a cent. I put it all there myself, expectin’ to buy. I worked an’ sweat to improve it’ (Garland 143). Not only was Tim Haskins effected physically, but he was also affected emotionally. After Butler said he would raise the price, Mr. Haskins felt terrible and taken advantage of. The way he felt is explained by the quote, “He felt a horrible numbness in his heart and limbs. He was hid in a mist, and there was no path out” (Garland 143). Since the short story shows a family suffering from unfair trade it means that Garland accurately portrays how economically farmers were impacted. Garland uses this event of unfair trade to show the effects economics had on farmers, which promoted his Populist Party beliefs that wanted to help the people of the agrarian system due to monopolistic

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