In Anzia Yezierska’s novel Bread Givers, protagonist Sara Smolinsky exemplifies a rags to riches tale. From a young age it is clear that Sara is driven to be a successful and independent woman. She goes against her father, the patriarch of the family, and decides that she will make her own decisions. This isolates herself from the rest of her sisters as they accept their father’s judgement and allow him to control their lives. Sara truly started with nothing as she was forced to pay her way through college. To further drive home the idea of Sara being self made and achieving the American dream, Yezierska juxtaposes the Smolinsky household on Hester Street with Sara’s living arrangements after attending college. By using vivid imagery and compelling diction to contrast the settings, Yezierska presents an inspirational account that showcases Sara’s rise from poverty. The Smolinski family is on the brink of disaster. We see that the landlord is constantly threatening to kick the family out into the streets due to being behind on rent payments. A ten year old Sara bears a heavy heart because she constantly envisions this becoming a reality. “I already saw all of our things kicked out on sidewalk like a pile of junk” (1). The elements present within the Smolinski home leave the daughters destined for failure. The dynamic that Reb Smolinski has created within the family is one where he dictates the future of his offspring. He refuses to work