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A Successful Figure In J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy

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Common Reading Assignment Throughout J.D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy, he recalls certain times throughout his life where he suffered severe times of hardship. Throughout his memoir, he calls to mind the both the good and bad experiences he experienced growing up and how they have turned him into the person he grew to be today. Along with that, he mentions both friends and family who continuously pulled him down and others who pushed him to be his best. Without his surroundings and circumstances, J.D. may not have grown into the successful figure that he is today. While J.D. grew up in significantly different circumstances than what I did, I believe I can relate to his relationship with his grandmother. While I did not have drug, alcohol, or financial trouble throughout my childhood my mother …show more content…

From about twelve to sixteen years old I did not get along with my mom no matter what the circumstances and this led me to run to my grandma for a safe place after arguments. While J.D. had to escape his mother because of abusive actions I just had to escape for peace of mind. My grandma and I had become very close over the years and I trusted her more than anyone else in my life. She was always there to help me and make sure I was on the right path. She makes sure that I try in school and strive for good grades and push myself as far as I can to be successful. Along with that she sympathized with my feelings for my mother instead of instantly supporting her side which as a stubborn child, made a big difference. Without the support of my grandma my views on life and an education would be much different than what they are now. In J.D. Vance’s perspective his mamaw’s house was a safe place. It was a safe place where he could escape from drugs, alcohol, abuse, and the constant rotation of new men in her life. His mother was the true definition of a hillbilly and not work to get out of the never ending cycles of drugs and alcohol. His mamaw continued to show

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Regardless of all the crazy things the ones she loved most did to her she always made sure she protected them because that was the culture she knew most. I believe that she was truly the pillar of her family and the novel clearly depicts her as one of the big reasons JD was a successful as he

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Vance's portrayal of his family and their struggles demonstrates the powerful influence of cultural identity. It also brings about challenges such as limited social status and lack of education making it difficult for people to break poverty. J.D. was mostly raised by his grandparents he called Mamaw Papaw and as a teenager, his grandparents moved away from a little coal mining town in Kentucky called Jackson, to Middletown Ohio where they raised Jimmy (their son), and two daughters, Bev(JDs mom) and Lori. At home there was alcoholism and domestic violence for JD. In public, the Vance family were very protective of each other and not interested in middle class behavior or rules.

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I was at her house every weekend and I had some of my fondest memories there. I was around seven or eight and I was spending the day with my grandma and it was raining outside, the clouds were dark and gray. I really wanted to go outside but unfortunately I could not because of the storm. I was so upset that I could not go outside that I started to cry.

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