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Another Holiday for the Prince Essay

Decent Essays

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 …show more content…

“‘He’s resting,’ Mother comforted herself. ‘Boys outgrow their strength they need extra rest. If only he’d eat and go outdoors in the air, though!’” (117). On the other hand the author shows us that the mother only focuses on the daughter and is concerned about what she does when her son is not around. Jolley presents this to the reader when the mother brings her daughter to Mrs. Lady’s house to clean.
“‘There’s big cigars in there and sex drinks and books with titles,’ she said and she send me to hang out the washing. There was nothing in the Seducers Cook Book to upset her she said and dusting those nude drawings didn’t affect her, she was to worn out and faded for that kind of thing”(117).
The daughter had a life plan. She wants to be successful even though people will alienate her for the fact that she has the qualities of someone from a low income family. “In pottery class I’m making a jar with a lid. If it comes out all right I think I’ll use it for a jewel box as we don’t ever eat marmalade. Jolley demonstrates that the sister knows she does not have a lot of things that people high up on the social status would normally have. The author uses characterization to provide the reader with an insight of how each individual lives in a low income family. Elizabeth Jolley uses symbolism throughout the short story that demonstrates the family’s low income status in society. The car keys are a symbol of an open high way, shows

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