Society's_Issues_Through_Literature

Deonte White Hamlin English 101 Essay # 5 Society’s Issues through Literature In Toni Cade Bambara’s The Lesson and Louise Erdwich’s The Red Convertible both authors wrote literature based on their real life issues in society such as racism, war, economical problems and more. In these stories, the narrators can see through different situations how society’s problems change a person’s mind set, and state of being through their attitudes and feelings toward their closest relationships, their view of the world, and their main concern. However, even though there are similarities between the stories, there are also differences. While in The Lesson, which focuses on how poverty can prevent opportunities for education, The Red Convertible focuses on the relationship between brothers and how war can change a family. In these stories, both narrators’ attitude and feelings toward and through their close relationships shows how society actions change people. In The Red Convertible, narrator, Lyman’s brother, Henry was overseas for two years fighting in the Vietnam War. "When he came home, though, Henry was very different, and I'll say this: the change was no good...The whole war was solved in the government's mind, but for him it would keep on going" (Erdrich 396). This quote shows that soon as Henry returned home Lyman noticed a change in him. “It was a fact: Henry was jumpy and mean” (Erdrich 396). Due to the events in the Vietnam War it was like his spirit was crushed. This story showed how war can ruin the family and crush every good feeling. In The Lesson, the main character and narrator Sylvia could clearly see the gap between the rich and the poor and later the inequality of it, "that it aint much of a democracy if you ask me." (Bambara 362). Throughout the story, Sylvia wonders how people have the kind of money to buy these expensive items. “Then we check out on Fifth Avenue and everybody dressed up in stockings. One lady in a fur coat, as hot as it is. White folks crazy.” (Bambara 358). This shows the world of the upper class compared to the lower class. Secondly, these narrators see how messed up society is from their perspective. In The Lesson, Sylvia views society is unequal because of this gap between the rich and the poor. She basic feels that as rich as the U.S. is, there is no reason for that gap to exist. In The Red Convertible, Lyman’s view of the world is realized by observing his brother, and feel that the white man was responsible for the Vietnam War. Their main concern is based on the government’s mistakes in society such as racism, war, and economical problems. Both of these narrators has experienced these changes in society themselves which changes their mind set. In Conclusion, these narrators can see through different situations how society’s problems change a person’s mind set, and state of being through their attitudes and feelings toward their closest relationships, their view of the world, and their main concern. Works Cited Bambara, Toni Cade. "The Lesson" McMahan, Elizabeth, et al. Literature and the Writing Process. 2007. 357-362. Erdrich, Louise. "The Red Convertible" McMahan, Elizabeth, et al. Literature and the Writing Process. 2007. 394-400