ipl-logo

Gutter Child Quotes

831 Words4 Pages

Numerous people's lives are affected by the crushing grasp and ruthless force of oppression, which binds and deprives them of their basic freedoms and rights. Jael Richardson, the acclaimed author behind the celebrated novel "Gutter Child," delves into the depths of oppression within the pages of her known work. Richard expertly captures the struggles that Elimina and other characters face on a daily basis through the moving story of Elimina and various other characters in the book. Elimina's mother passed away, leaving her to live in the gutters and fight for her freedom. However, they face numerous difficult obstacles on the way to freedom. Intricacies of an oppressive system are explored in depth in Richardson's book, where seemingly impossible …show more content…

This brave move made by Josephine serves as a striking picture of the difficult decisions individuals who are caught in the grips of oppression and discrimination must make. The quote, "..Then do that, have those dogs tear through every building until she's found" (118) from Jael Richardson's book "Gutter Child" effectively expresses the spirit of this oppressive environment. Mr. Gregors,the head of Livingstone Academy, orders his guards to look for Josephine while using the terrifying dogs as a frightening symbol to anybody who dared to break the school's strict rules. When Mr. Gregors says, "I want all these kids to see these dogs, so they know what's coming if they decide to follow Josephine's lead" (119), he further emphasizes the oppressive state of mind. This argument just adds to the sense of hopelessness and despair that surrounds the lives of the kids who are confined to the academy. The characters in "Gutter Child" personify the damaging effects of oppression on freedom and human dignity since they are constrained by impossible obligations and subjected to society's strict categorizations. Richardson skillfully reveals the systematic and marginalizing aspect of oppression through Josephine's struggle and the strange presence of the dogs, providing as a moving reminder of the stubbornness and …show more content…

This heartbreaking story is simply another powerful illustration of the oppression that these individuals faced on a daily basis. Tilly's suffering reaches its peak when, after nine laborious months of bearing the child, she is unable to retain her darling child since she is trapped at a different academy because of her pregnancy. "Where's my baby? I want my baby," she cries out desperately (226), her words echoing as guards forcibly lead her away. As Tilly's severe anguish is exacerbated by the rapid separation from her infant kid and the uncertainty of whether they will ever be reunited, the degree of oppression suffered by the gutter children becomes brutally apparent. Elimina and her friends, who are plagued by their own knowledge of the cruel system, take comfort in their collective pain as Tilly is torn apart. "We huddle close, weeping for Tilly and her baby, weeping for each other," (227). Elimina realizes the oppressive cycle at this painful point, realizing that it will be hard for her to have to separate from her kid when the time comes for her to give birth. Elimina and her friends are motivated to fight against oppressive forces by a mother's undying love, yet in spite of their efforts, they continue to be imprisoned by injustice. Each incident, from Josephine's daring escape to Tilly's

Show More
Related
274 Words | 2 Pages

It is easy to disregard the lives of others, especially of those outside one’s own, but does the fact that, tonight, several thousand children will restlessly work while the adults sleep not raise concern? Florence Kelly was a United States social worker who advocated for child labor laws and the improved working conditions for women throughout the early 1900s. During a speech to the National American Woman Suffrage Association Kelly skillfully employed the rhetorical strategies of imagery, pathos, and anecdote in order to sufficiently inform her listeners of the horrendous working conditions that many children were forced to endure. Through careful word choice Kelly’s use of imagery manages to evoke a sense of pity among her listeners towards

Read More
546 Words | 3 Pages

A Cloud of Oppression Experiencing the torment of a label is difficult, especially if it is given to your whole family. In the memoir Red Scarf Girl, set in the time of the Cultural Revolution, being within the upper middle class was frowned upon and proletarians were seen as the leaders of society. The label of black class status tainted the bourgeoisie, including the Jiang family, with torture, ridicule, and incrimination by others influenced by the governmentally coercive ways of Communism. Political oppression was visible everywhere within China, affecting neighborhoods, families and even children.

Read More
1388 Words | 6 Pages

The novel goes through many recurring themes such as child abuse, social and economic differences, and legitimacy. These themes not only impact the main character but all the characters as a whole. It is the harrowing story of how Ruth Anne “Bone” Boatwright, a child must learn to cope and deal with the many terrible atrocities that are inflicted upon her by her stepfather, “Daddy Glen.” Before Bone could even coherently make a judgment upon herself she was labeled as an outcast. She was a sin and mistake that should be labeled as such for the world to know about it.

Read More
663 Words | 3 Pages

This section of the book is when Riri dies because of Lincoln, I realized that her death is entirely pointless because neither the Indigenous or the enemy were able to use her genetics for being able to dream or to pass on cultural knowledge to her. This situation mirrors the events surrounding the residential schools, many children suffered and died because of the hate people had for no valid reason. This section also shows how traumatizing and dangerous life can be for Riri and the group as a whole, Frenchie says “...her throat grasped under his thick arm, legs kicking the air… ‘just put her down.’ Miig tried to keep his voice steady. ‘Please, just put the girl on the ground so she can breathe.”

Read More
1509 Words | 7 Pages

Thesis In the face of racism, oppression and inequality the characters in the new Gutter Child develop adaptability, strength, and an understanding of their identity. 3 First. The new demonstrates that in the face of racism, oppression and inequality adaptability is developed. Elimina shows

Read More
728 Words | 3 Pages

Oppression is pervasive that has shaped history, society, and individual lives in profound ways. Jael Richardson’s “Gutter Child” is a dystopian novel. The novel Gutter Child is about various people who live in a society that is filled with injustice and oppression and is displayed throughout the entire book through the difficulties faced by people referred to as gutter people. Jael Richardson's “Gutter Child” displaces the topic of oppression leading characters to make impossible decisions due to the situations they are left in. This is shown through the character of Tilly who has to make decisions for the sake of her child and Violet who committed suicide left with no other decision due to her situation.

Read More
556 Words | 3 Pages

the author was beaten while ill and didn’t want to go to mass, a required function 7. her classroom was beside the principals office and she could here the boys being beaten racism breeds racism in reverse. 8. the girls were fed a very poor diet while the nuns ate good food, and the sleeping quarters were not warmed during the winter

Read More
1013 Words | 5 Pages

Kelley compares contrasting words as she notes, “Now, therefore, in New Jersey, boys and girls, after their 14th birthday, enjoy the pitiful privilege of working all night long” (6). Kelley is able to create a sense of compassion for the children throughout her audience by using contradicting words such as pitiful and privilege to make the men and women at the convention ponder about the morbid reality of young children working in harsh conditions. Kelley uses the word “privilege” as almost ironic contrast to the pitiful situation convincing the suffragists at the convention to take action against intensive working conditions. Hence, Kelley is able to convince the men and women at the convention to advocate for women’s suffrage through putting conflicting words together to sway the audience to support her cause for voting rights for women. Kelley continues to remind the audience that in order to take the burden of a pitiful privilege off of children, they first need to gain voting rights to make their stances

Read More
1052 Words | 5 Pages

The speaker is uneducated, so the writing in the first person is readable for beginners as well as educated adults. Walker addresses the audience specifically to to create deeper imagery, where the audience can add their own experiences to the story, such as “You’ve no doubt seen those TV shows” (46). The speaker directly addresses the audience, and so anyone reading the story, whether a minority, or the majority, will be connected to the story. Purpose: Walker describes the impact of oppression on the relationship between mother and daughter, and how the oppressed view themselves.

Read More
497 Words | 2 Pages

For example, she states, “They carry bundles of garments from the factories to the tenements… they may work for us”. In telling this impactful comparison of beasts of burden to children, Kelley creates a sense of

Read More
790 Words | 4 Pages

The poor kids got shoved to the back of the class and had to share desks, the teacher never called on them, and they were not allowed to go to the bathroom during class. Also, since the parents worked all the time, the children got little adult supervision. Kids had to grow up fast and had to take care of themselves, most dropped out of school to work. When Francie had no food, her mom made her and her brother play a game pretending they were in the North Pole to get their mind off of eating. Poor families faced real and difficult problems, but Francie’s family was able to make it out of their

Read More
1010 Words | 5 Pages

Social injustice is when actions are taken that disregard a group of individuals rights, take away their opportunities or treat them unfairly. Social injustice stands in the way of growth and development, and even delays improvement in life. In Colson Whitehead’s novel “The Nickel Boys”, Elwood Curtis and the boys at Nickel Academy are seen dealing with social injustice in the 1960’s America. Elwood faces a form of social injustice in multiple ways having to deal with discrimination, physical and emotional abuse, and limited opportunities. Through internal dialogue Elwood and the boys at Nickel have their own way of dealing with the way they’re discriminated against.

Read More
1250 Words | 5 Pages

Children are viewed as pure and full of potential, they are the future, so when he gives testimonies that their finical status already limits one child at such a young age concerns his audience because of the lost potential. Moreover, society has this belief that children have the right to be nurtured, especially in the United States, so Gladwell focuses on displaying the lack of care from the community for these children taps into the audience’s concern and desire for

Read More
584 Words | 3 Pages

He keeps her alone in an old beat up nursery when she should be out being productive. He also doesn't let her do anything because he is “protecting her” and helping her recover faster when they both know that is not the case. And he at one point of the story says “What is it, little girl?” and “Don't go walking about like that---you will get cold.” The biggest symbol of oppression in the story is The Yellow Wallpaper.

Read More
799 Words | 4 Pages

Although it is not stated clearly, the texts have many evidences that point towards their fate. Moreover, with the change from a third-person narration to a bystander-style narration, it further highlights the inescapability of their situation and hence, amplifies the tragedy and arouses the reader’s pity for the characters. In short, the texts illuminate the lack of social movement, where children are doomed to follow the footsteps of their family, a tragic but unavoidable

Read More

More about Gutter Child Quotes

Related Topics

Open Document