“The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.” – Percy Bysshe Shelly, 1821. This is a devastating, yet true statement, reflected in everyday life. Rich people are always held higher above everyone because of their wealth and power, whilst the poor are constantly working, earning little money, but still find it difficult to move up in the social hierarchy. In Andy Mulligan’s 2010 novel, Trash, explores this idea through the engaging story of three dumpsite boys who stumble upon a bag that becomes central to a police investigation. The author’s decision to set the story in a fictional dumpsite reflects the harsh realities of poverty, showing how characters like Raphael are stuck in a cycle that is hard to escape. While wealthy people have many ways to …show more content…
When they commit crimes, most assume they are innocent, so they get help. Their money also allows them to pay for better lawyers if they are taken to court. In The New York Times, it states: the implications of being rich have set off an emotional, angry debate [.] a juvenile court judge sentenced a 16-year-old [.] to 10 years’ probation for killing four people in a drunken-driving crash. This proves that people in court agree with the rich. In Trash, Gabriel Olondriz faces this injustice. He explains: “Senator Zapanta stole it, and I tried to prove he stole it. It never went to court, because the senator quickly counter sued. It seemed he had many more friends than I, and infinitely more power. I ended up charged and prosecuted. I was convicted – my appeals were laughed at. life imprisonment, I got,” (page 102). This statement highlights the corrupt legal system, where wealth dictates justice, and the theme of social inequality. When rich and influential people have problems, their money, power, and connections give them supreme and overarching