ipl-logo

Why Does Ruth See Her Family's Way Out Of Poverty Essay

512 Words3 Pages

How does Ruth see her family’s way out of poverty? What does she consider to be the most important things for her children? How do you know?

Raising twelve kids on your own can be challenging, but Ruth manages to look at the best of things to pull her way through tough times. One of the many challenges Ruth faced was poverty. With little food and money, she managed to feed and look after eight of twelve children by working long shifts in a cafeteria, sharing hand-me-downs, and focusing on church and education. All of Ruth's kids got along and were great friends, “but when it came to food, they were my enemies“ (page 66). There wasn’t much food in the house, but James, Ruth’s fifth oldest son, and his siblings would feast off of what she brought home from work. Ruth worked long shifts in a cafeteria at the Chase …show more content…

Ruth would return home at two a.m. with sandwiches and other treats she stocked up on for her kids to devour later that night. Running from the bed to the kitchen over all the toys and clutter to greet their mother, where Ruth was often be found knocked out sleeping in her work clothes, the children would raid her purse for food. The house the family lived in wasn’t very sterilized, and the floors were covered in toys and clothes handed down from one sibling to the next. The family shared practically everything, from towels, toothbrushes, even school instrument. Since the family couldn't afford new clothes, the older kids would pass down their old, used ones to the younger kids, and the older ones got clothes for cheap. Education was one of Ruth's top priorities, and attending church every week was another. No matter how messy the house was, Ruth focused on getting her kids the proper education, as she wanted her kids to grow up to be like their older brother, Dennis.Dennis is a successful man, with a lot of money, who

Show More
Related
475 Words | 2 Pages

James loved to read and play the flute, he even received a scholarship. Ruth was a mother of twelve so it was hard for her to dedicate her time to just one child, James craved for her attention and love. He loves to visit his older sister Jackie’s house, he even got kicked out of summer school three times in a row just to go over there. Also, he was a cautious person he knew what he was doing was wrong but he still did it anyways. Ruth was a Jew deep down inside but converted over to christianity right along with her kids.

Read More
585 Words | 3 Pages

Most families were separated and their sons and daughters were often sold. An example from Kindred is how Sarah’s children, besides Carrie, were sold so Mrs. Weylin could get new furniture. Most women and young ladies work in the cookhouse to take care of the owner house and do their chores for them. They ate left over from their owner and slept after their owner slept. They also woke up early in the morning before their owner because they have to get

Read More
1072 Words | 5 Pages

For example, Ruth constantly strains how important school is and how this intention “was a top priority” for her children (69). Through inducements, Ruth’s urgency for her children to achieve education becomes an effective focal point in the way she raises her family to be hard-headed and independent students. Ruth always believes in her children and their potential to be educated and to live a structured life. Similarly, when James confronts Ruth about skin color, she declares, “educate yourself or you’ll be nobody!” (92).

Read More
1723 Words | 7 Pages

“The girl had never had an overwhelming curiosity about her mother but it fascinated her to see the face of the lady in all the pictures on a woman who moved and laughed and did all mother of things” (11). Her Aunt Thelma served as the closest mother figure she could possibly have. Her interest to discover the role mothers play in society explain her frequent visits to Ralph’s

Read More
721 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the book Ruth’s support for her children is shown in multiple ways. Ruth takes on difficult, poorly paid jobs that require her working through most of the day and night in order to supply her family with food and a proper education. In this quote Ruth gives what little money she has left to her son, James, as he leaves for college. Being able to give up the little money she makes to provide for James and support her family is proof of her ability to support others, a trait that

Read More
1089 Words | 5 Pages

This is seen by the actions she takes to get to her goal, statements she makes towards her family members, and how she responds to her family when they are troubled. Mama has lived in her apartment for a long time with her family and is about to get enough money to change that. An example of Mama’s motivation to achieve her goal is shown when Ruth, her daughter-in-law and Mama are talking about what Mama would do with the insurance money. Mama states, “Been thinking that we maybe could meet the notes on a little old two-story somewhere, with a yard where Travis could play in the summertime, if we use part of the insurance for a down payment and everybody kind of pitch in” (563). Mama is suggesting to Ruth of what could be a better future for her son and their family.

Read More
818 Words | 4 Pages

Mama, Dee, and Maggie do not have the most ideal family relationship, but Maggie and Mama are creating a stronger bond after Maggie told Mama Dee can have the quilts because she can “’member Grandma Dee without the quilts” (Walker 153). Not only does Maggie cherish the quilts because of their background, but she also knows how to quilt, thus giving her the ability to carry on that heritage. This makes Mama realize Maggie is

Read More
261 Words | 2 Pages

The short story “Everyday Use” is a great example of family culture and upbringings. Maggie and Dee are two sisters brought up from the same mother but have completely different views on their culture. This difference is brought up with their different views on the two quilts. Dee wants to take the hand-sewn quilts to keep as nice decorative items, while Maggie, as well as the mother, want to use the quilts like they were made to be used-for everyday use. The quilts have been used as a sense of comfort for Maggie who the mother describes as “homely and ashamed of the burn scars down her arms and legs.”

Read More
963 Words | 4 Pages

Mama is thinking that the family just shouldn’t move since all the money is gone. Ruth is trying to convince Mama to still move because the apartment is too small for another baby and having Mama not give up her hope of having a house with a garden. This shows Ruth just wants her family to have a nice home and is willing to work for it even more. Another example of Ruth working hard for her family is when, Ruth begs, “Lena—I’ll work…. I’ll work twenty hours a day in all the kitchens in Chicago….

Read More
840 Words | 4 Pages

In fact, Maggie and Mama embrace the family tradition by knowing how to quilt, churn butter, and use other antiques in their daily lives. Furthermore, they know the family history and whom the antiques were passed down from. For instance, Maggie says, “ ‘Aunt Dee’s first husband whittled the dash… His name was Henry, but they called him Stash’ ” (614) and Mama knows that blue piece in the quilt “was from Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the Civil War” (615). This further proves that Mama and Maggie are very well informed about their family heritage and know how to show respect and love toward their

Read More
760 Words | 4 Pages

Each obstacle brings about different emotions all that ends with humor. I am a younger siblings so I can relate to what is happening between Nora and Jackie. Nora is an elder sister whom assumes the responsibility of being Jackie’s guardian when their mother is not around. Explaining the difference between Jackie and Nora, Jackie states “Now girls are supposed to be fastidious, but I was the on suffered most from this” (O’Connor 306). Jackie is saying that is sister is not very concerned or detailed about things such as himself.

Read More
305 Words | 2 Pages

They were all business workers that buy and sell goods in convenient stores. They were all of the Catholic faith and constantly practiced their faith. Ruth’s parents are High school graduates, but her grandparents did not

Read More
408 Words | 2 Pages

As the two women returned to Naomi’s homeland in Israel, Ruth was sent to gather remaining grain in the fields of Boaz to provide sustenance for both women. By attracting the attention of Boaz, Ruth was shown extra favoritism due in part to the kindness that she was bestowing on her mother-in-law, Naomi (Tullock & McEntire, 2012).

Read More
1717 Words | 7 Pages

Every day there were woken up at five o’clock in the morning to clean her grandma's garden. The garden had to be spotless. In addition, they had to go to school in the afternoon from one in the afternoon until six o’clock. Great-grandmother would make them cook and make tamales, atole and would tell them “ If you burn the atole I will burn you with the spoon.” Great grandmother was wealthy she would often say they shouldn't leave back to their mother's house if they did,

Read More
848 Words | 4 Pages

Ruth Younger does the wifely job of making breakfast for her husband and son. “What kind of eggs you want?” (Hansberry 1913). “I feed my son Lena!” (Hansberry 1921).

Read More

More about Why Does Ruth See Her Family's Way Out Of Poverty Essay

Related Topics

Open Document