"The Cash Boy" - Horatio Alger

Edith Wharton is well known for her vivid descriptions of wealthy, upper class New York society and their old-fashioned mores. The Custom of the Country illustrates not only the strict values of ‘old money,' from which Wharton herself descended, but, also, the variance in customs held by those with new money, as well as those from other states and abroad. Two of the novel's main characters that attempt to join this society exemplify the conflicts they face as their imbedded small-town, yet, somewhat modern values clash with those of New York society, further demonstrating the shift of values in American society near the end of the Gilded Age. As Undine Spragg and her family move to New York in hopes of securing a fortune and social status

Friends are needed in a person’s life for emotional stability whom without would lead to a life of loneliness and solitude. In the novel, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, the characters Crooks, Candy and Curly’s wife exhibit a form of loneliness. They are driven to George and Lennie’s friendship because they lack support and that emotional stability in their own lives."A guy goes nuts if he ain't got nobody. Don't matter no difference who the guy is, longs he with you. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sick" (Steinbeck, 13). Throughout his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck shows that victims of isolation crave to fulfill a companionship to fill in that void of loneliness.

In “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” the narrator describes the importance of the cafe compared to all the other places that are open to convey the idea of loneliness and despair. Through the use of imagery, symbolism, point of view and, allegory Ernest Hemingway establishes a connection between the older waiter and the deaf guy, as he illustrates the significance the well-lit cafe brings to their lonely night. As the waiters discuss their thoughts on being open so late, the older waiter claims to be one of those who enjoy the aura of the cafe being open so late compared to other places. “With all those who do not want to go to bed. With all those who need a light for the night.“ The role the cafe plays to diminish loneliness and despair does not go unrecognized by the older waiter and deaf guy who find their escape in that clean well-lit cafe. Loneliness screams louder at night for those who walk through it by themselves. They look to find comfort in a well-lit place with a calm and pleasant aura. The feeling displayed between the old deaf man and older waiter does not register with the younger waiter who does not understand the search of finding peace found in the cafe. The younger waiter has a wife to go home to as the older deaf man and older waiter have nothing and that is their escape from their dark loneliness, the cafe. Since it is clear that Ernest Hemingway has established that the old deaf man

Wharton takes the much-admired upper crust of society and exposes them, not in a hurtful world, but an objectively world. Wharton writes: "I've come to the conclusion that I don't in the least know what they are," said Mrs. Ansley. "And perhaps we didn't know much more about each other."(780) This one passage serves as a direct commentary on both the bonds of friendship and family life. Wharton's language is objective, straightforward. The character speaks these alarming

     Throughout Frank’s childhood, there were very few times when feeding the family was not a challenge. Even when Frank’s father was working, he would very often drink his paycheck instead of bringing it home to his family. Frank remembers a time when his father did bring home his paycheck, and took notice at how proud his mother was when she was finally able to pay the man for her groceries. She was able to “hold her head up again because there’s nothing worse in the world than to owe and be beholden to anyone”(23). This is where Frank learns that the ability to pay brings dignity and self-respect. He draws a connection, that when he has food, his family is prospering. Later on in life, when Frank begins to earn his own wages, he loves the feeling of independence, and dreams of providing for a family of his own. He works for Mr. Hannon, delivering coal, and makes many of the other boys jealous of him. He doesn’t mind when the boys harass him though, because he “has the job” and Mr. Hannon tells him he’s “powerful”(264). Frank connects having a job with being powerful. This shows how Frank was able to overcome the struggles of hunger and actually taught him the value of hard work.

“But, I 'm already resigned to this fate / Looking over my life, I recall / If it hadn 't been / for the loneliness / I 'd have no companion at all. ” This stanza from “Loneliness”, by Lora Colon evokes the negative impact a lonely fate has on a person. Words like “resigned” and “loneliness” establish a sense of depression and resignation. During the times of the Great Depression, many people felt similar feelings of melancholy and stoicism. Jobs were hard to come by, and realistic dreams of success were scarce. John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, allows readers to see the life of the Great Depression. The two main characters, George and Lennie, search for jobs, like many other migrant workers. They dream of owning their own land, however, Lennie’s habit of getting in trouble prevents their dream from being reality. After he accidentally causes more trouble at their new job, George is forced to kill him out of mercy. Throughout the novel, Steinbeck shows that even if one meticulously plans out the road to their American Dream, fate will inevitably intervene and lead one to desolation and loneliness.

In a society of people all in the same situations how can someone feel so alone. When lives fall apart and people have nothing to hold on to people need each other most, yet are pushed so far from others. The novel Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, follows the storyline of two men who are displaced farm workers during the Great Depression; they travel around and stick by each other’s sides no matter the circumstance. After many jobs they end up on a farm,the farm they hope will be their last stop. The time spent on the farm is filled with blooming friendships and careless quarrels, yet with an abundance of characters and entertainment- many people on the farm feel alone and out of place. Characters such as Crooks and Curley’s wife often come to mind when the subject of loneliness is brought up. Throughout the book using characters such as Crooks and Curley's wife, John Steinbeck demonstrates that humans are immensely impacted by separation from society and it will change the way that people will act and show themselves to others.

My personal reaction to this short story is quite an angry feeling. There was many ideas within this story that I would have never agreed too. One of the main topics ideas I had disagreed with is was when Mr. And Mrs. Panessa agreed to give credit to a poor man. It was a ridiculous idea because even if they wanted to be kind to him, they should have realized that since he was poor , he would want to misuse his privilege and they would of been in many troubles. Another idea I disagree with was when Mr. Schlegel said he would pay them all back at one time. It is extremely hard to save up that much money to give back at one time, and it would be much easier for him to pay little by little to release the

The bar tender was rude to Neddy while serving him a drink and he began to realize he must have lost some social esteem. He left to go to the pool of Shirley Adams, his former mistress, where he expected to receive a drink and possibly even sex, but was also met with disdain for his unannounced arrival. He didn’t understand the barkeep or Shirley’s rudeness and began to cry. He made his way back to his home to find it empty. All of these events could be symbolic of what happens when a man focuses so hard on his class and his goals in life that he loses the important things that he didn’t give his attention to. Cheever shows what happens when a man loses his family and his social status through these scenarios.

     One major character found in the book is Frank’s mother, Angela. Angela is a very kind, loving mother who would do anything for her children. Struck by poverty in Ireland, Angela is forced to plead for clothing, furniture, etc. from the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Angela sacrifices her pride, unlike her husband, in order to provide for the family. Angela becomes extremely outraged when she is discriminated for her social class. Angela is not a very religious person, however she respects the church, and is proud of her son, Frank, when he completes his first communion. And she also respects her husband’s decision to teach Frank to become an altar boy. Angela is a good mother. She teaches her children to be hardworking men who have a high standard for good virtue and humanity. She herself however does not practice this. Instead, of moving into her sister’s home, she moves to her cousin, Laman Griffin’s home where she must succumb to becoming his lover. Frank condemns her for this, and for begging upon a church.

People who are described as “"whores, pimps, gamblers, and sons of bitches"(1) often band together to fight against problems, such as the influenza epidemic. Business owners who are shown throughout the novel that money is a priority such as Lee Chong and Dora deal as often in good will as they do with cash, helping the boys out along their journey. At the heart of this community rests Doc, someone that everyone is in some way indebted to along with being overall a good person and becoming the soul of the community, as when he is wronged the whole town goes into a negative state. Related to this is finding happiness without material wealth, specifically with analyzing the story of Mack and the boys. If you throw out side plots and various other things from the story, it’s a few poor guys trying to collect up enough booze and pocket money to throw a party. These men don’t value the concept of wealth in material earnings as much as they measure wealth in the sense of good will and the experiences on has in life. The boys described as “not mercantile men. They did not measure their joys in goods sold, their egos in bank balances, nor their loves in what they cost”(108)

In her novel Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton takes a step from her usual writing style of focussing on the upper class she was raised in and focuses on the troubles of the lower class. This story is about a man who tries to escape poverty ends up failing.Using the sociological critical approach one is able to hypothesize why Wharton moved from her usual writing style and determine a theme from it. The sociological approach is when one examines the political or economic context in which the story is written. Examining the society and class the author lives or lived in along with the society and class the author writes about a theme based around these ideas can be formed.

Written in 1951, J.D. Salinger’s, The Catcher in the Rye continues to be a popular book amongst Americans. Although The Catcher in the Rye has been banned in many public school settings in the United States it continues to stay atop some of the greatest books of all time lists. Whether people are in their teens or in their fifties they find themselves drawn to Holden Caulfield. At some point in their life they could relate to a sense of alienation, caused by money and wealth. Humans are wired to be jealous and want what others have. Holden Caulfield has the opposite problem, he has money and wealth which he inherited from his hard working parents. However, he himself is not motivated to work hard, graduate prep school and earn his own wealth. Instead he despises hard working students at the many prep schools he drops out of. Holden also has a big number of family complications. An area to explore is how wealth can contribute to feelings of alienation and despair. Holden Caulfield has a complex relationship with money, not wanting to associate from it, but benefiting from it. A further look into the 1950’s may give an insight into the troubled mind of Holden Caulfield.

At some point in one’s life there is not only contentment or grief, but a state of loneliness. Loneliness is a part of human life, although some suffer from isolation more than others. Being lonely can lead to depression or create a different persona in oneself. Struggling through isolation can eventually kill one’s soul, expecting no hope or ending up in dangerous situations. The novella Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck portrays the theme of loneliness especially through two characters. Crooks and Curley’s wife experience the state of isolation as they crave for a friend or someone they can talk with. Steinbeck urges readers to feel pathos when analyzing Crooks and Curley’s wife through the nature of their isolation, their actions and

Selfishness is defined as the stinginess resulting from a concern of your own welfare and the disregard of others. Selfishness, once passing a certain level, is seen as a character flaw by many people. Where does selfishness come from? Is it a trait in which as humans we pick up over time, or is it an animalistic trait in which we are born with and have no control over? Author Mark Sundeen tells us the story of Daniel Suelo, in the book The Man Who Quit Money. Daniel Suelo was a mid-aged man, who decided to drop everything and live on his own without the use of money; he would no longer live the typical American lifestyle and survive strictly on the kindness of others and the leftovers he could find in dumpsters.