Poverty Depicted In Angela's Ashes And The Street

Poverty, a condition which leaves people with less than adequate means of support, is a struggle that has been faced by many throughout the world since the dawn of time. Poverty is also often portrayed in works of literature such as "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt and "The Street" by Ann Petry. "Angela's Ashes" revolves around a poverty stricken family with no money for food and "The Street" illustrates a single mother looking for living space. Both of these stories exemplify the theme of the struggles of being impoverished through the settings, characters, and events that take place.

One way the theme of the struggles of being impoverished is exemplified is through the settings in the two stories. In "Angela's Ashes," the narrator and his family live in a house with no money for food. He often remarks of seeing cozy homes with fires unlike his own. The narrator is also reduced to running through the cold streets of Limerick to reach his destination. Similarly, in Ann petry's "The Street," Lutie Johnson walks along a windy street to find housing, "It found all the dirt and dust and grime on the sidewalk and lifted it up so that the dirt got into their

“Angela’s Ashes” focuses mainly on the narrator, his mother, and siblings. The narrator feels obligated to care for his family as his mother is sick and resorts to stealing food as his family does not have the expenses to cover the cost of food. “It's easier to stick the bread up under my jersey with the lemonade and promise to tell everything in confession” (McCourt, 1996). It is clear that the narrator knows that what he is doing is wrong but does not have a choice. In “The Street,” the author describes Lutie Johnson as she walks along the road and states that her hair was lifted by the wind. Although Lutie Johnson is not comfortable, she is determined to find living space for her