The Poverty Balls And Evelyn And Tateh s Relationship

Since our earliest times, Americans have held pride in the claim that we are a middle class society that lacks class stratification. However, as we look back on our origins, it is clear that social class has played a role in our history, even in times when America was supposedly making great strides toward social and economic equality. While the Progressive Era was generally viewed a time of betterment for the United States, it was also a time when the wage gap reached a peak. In this paper, I will argue that the rich were so far removed from the poor that they perceived them with a sort of fascination and romanticism because they were so vastly different. I will demonstrate this through examining the poverty balls and Evelyn and Tateh’s†¦show more content†¦Evelyn stepped onto the street. She knelt down† (42). Here it is clear that Evelyn really does not belong in this neighborhood. She enters the area in a respectable vehicle driven by her chauffer, something very uncharacteristic of this place. It is of interest to note that when she gets out of the car, she kneels to the ground. This action performed, on presumably dirty streets that are not consistent with her normal standard of living, foreshadows that she will attempt to fully immerse herself in the slum and become a part of it. Upon interacting with the young girl and Tateh, she is immediately intrigued by their lives and buds an obsession with the family. This is apparent from her frequent visits; â€Å"Over a period of two weeks the old man executed over a hundreds and forty silhouette portraits of Evelyn. After each one she would hand him fifteen cents. Sometimes she demanded a portrait of the little girl. Tateh executed over ninety of these,† (44). Here again we see the vast difference between Evelyn’s mode of life and Tateh’s. While he is out working everyday, she uses her free time to carelessly spend almost thirty-five dollars on an excess of portraits. However, even though this is a complete waste of resources, it is initially the only way that she is able to get a glimpse into this foreign world and feed her curiosity. Her obsession with the family deepens as she is said to, â€Å"[sneak] off to her new love interest on the Lower East Side† (45). The way