Phillip Wiseman AMST Paper 3 TA- Meghan
The movie Gold Diggers shows how during times of hardship it becomes necessary for those that have wealth to help those who lack money and to interact with them to show the existence of a classless society. Herbert Hoover instills this idea through his concept of volunteerism and the understanding that everything in the economy is cyclical and eventually will fix itself. Volunteerism helps those that are in need, but also can help those that give provide the help. In Gold Diggers both sides of volunteerism are seen through Brad Roberts’ actions and the successes that the play and its performers receive from his money.
Hoover believed that individuals should make the decision themselves to help others rather than have the government impose these social welfare systems on its citizens. “Quote.” In Hoover’s address made in Colorado he talks about how the New Deal was a form of communism and that rather than have these government run and instituted programs, the way to get out of the depression would be through the volunteerism of others.
Hoover talks about a classless society in the sense that any individual can rise to the highest ranks within the country, therefore, regardless of our economic position in society we should associated ourselves as Americans because we all share this common opportunity.
In the movie Gold Diggers, the female stars are constantly out of work and run down by the failing economy. They finally get the opportunity to be in a show; all the girls are excited as they have been living in rundown apartments for the past few months after their previous show--or in some cases shows--has been cancelled. Barney Hopkins, the producer, tells them all about the show in a very grand style: how he has parts for all of them, and how the show will make thousands of dollars and stay open for months. The girls are suddenly let down when they discover that Barney will probably have to cancel this show because he doesn’t have any money to pay for all the expenses. It is not until Brad Roberts, a wealthy New Englander, offers to help that they are able to producer their show and become successful.
Without Brad’s money they would be unable to produce a show which Barney is confident will be a hit. It is important to note this because it elicits in the audience a sense of frustration over Barney’s seemingly helpless situation. The reason why he cannot get the money is not that Barney is a bad businessman, but because many banks were closing at this time or were unable to hand out loans because of the depression. This is when Brad comes in to save the day and help finance the play. Here it can be seen that Barney has exhausted all conventional avenues and has come up short handed. When all seems to be lost, Brad generously volunteers his money to pay for the production. This shows that sometimes situations cannot be helped by banks or other entities, but people must rely on volunteerism by others.
Brad’s contributions were significant to the play and he probably did not have to sacrifice much to give the $15,000 to Barney. This shows that volunteerism is a smart idea because the wealthy people who contribute are able to easily give up the money because it is considered a small amount to them. But to others a lot can be done with a small sum of money. This can be seen with how easily Brad is able to get the money and how quickly he is able to decide to lend it to Barney. To Brad this money is not that important and losing $15,000 will not make a significant change in his life. Conversely, this money does mean a lot to Barney who is able to give work to dozens of women and men. Here the cost is less than what benefit it gives. This shows that volunteerism is effective because it is less costly to volunteer and extremely important to the ones receiving the aid.
By the end of the film all the women are happily married--or soon to be married-- and the show has become a success. Brad’s older brother gives Brad a check for $10,000, eliminating any worry from Polly that her and her new husband would not be able to make it financially. Also, everyone is excited over the play and it’s success is only matched by their own happiness.
This scene shows the end product of Brad’s volunteerism. Without his volunteering the money to Barney, the show would not have been performed and all of their success would have never been. Also, viewers see that as a result of his volunteerism that the main characters all indirectly end up together and found love. This is possibly an allusion to the idea that with money and the generosity of others comes the truest of happiness seen in this movie through marriage. The ability of Brad’s brother and the family’s attorney to interact with Carol and Trixie shows the ideal result of living in a classless society where individuals take responsibility for their own personal welfare and that of others.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Draft
Phillip Wiseman American Studies 72 TA- Meghan Drury
Immigrants’ Strive to Leave Poverty
While many native-born whites blamed urban poverty and squalor on immigrants, immigrants were essentially forced into poverty when they arrived. Living in poverty was not a choice, but because many of them did not have the skills necessary or know the language spoken immigrants were forced into low paying jobs--assuming they were able to get jobs in the first place. Once immigrants were in America they strived to become successful by working their way up through industry.
Anzia Yezierska uses Sara and her family in her novel Bread Givers to show native-born Americans how immigrants strived against adversity to succeed in America. In Bread Givers, Sara--the youngest daughter of a Russian immigrant--strives to get herself out of the poverty and squalor of Hester Street on the Lower East Side of New York City and become educated. Sara is unhappy with her life in poverty and sees an education as her way out. Sara recalled a story she read in the Sunday paper about a girl who was working hard in a shop and was “turning gray” until she began going to night school, then college and eventually a school teacher.# This little story set Sara on a path that would eventually lead her toward attending college and then onto her career as a teacher. The story of the girl in the paper as well as Sara’s story of how she became a teacher mirror the typical American success stories of immigrants coming out of poverty and “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” to achieve success through education.
Sara not only has ambitions of getting an education, but she also works in a laundry while attending night school. This shows that not only does she have aspirations of a better life, but that she is working hard in the mean time so she can survive on her own. While the native-born white image of immigrants may be those who lived in filthy poverty, Sara worked hard in a laundry to save money for a new life of college and classes. Sara was trying to work her way out of poverty to a better life.
Early in the novel there is a scene in which Sara buys a fish for 25 cents and sells it later that day for 50 cents. This shows that Sara is intelligent enough to learn how to make a profit. She said that she no longer wanted to go through trash to find old coals for fire or to sit on a street corner and beg, rather she had the ingenuity to know that she could make a profit from fish peddling. This is an example of how Yezierska shows the immigrants’ drive to improve their quality of life.
Because Sara went to night classes and eventually to college she was able to pull herself out of poverty. She transformed from a poor girl living in squalor to an educated woman who could take care of herself and better her community. This is in direct opposition to how many native-born whites saw immigrants. Now, Sara is able to enjoy finer stores and a better living and proves that immigrants can work hard to become a part of American society.
Sara’s father, Reb Smolinsky, also has dreams of becoming wealthier; however, he is sent back to poverty after being taken advantage of. Reb shows that he wants a better life after he purchases the grocery store in Elizabeth. This is another example of entrepreneurialism among immigrants or of how the father was trying to “pull himself up by his bootstraps.” The reason why Reb is unsuccessful is not because of a lack of trying due to laziness, like many native-born whites may believe about immigrants’ work ethic, but it is because he is taken advantage of that he is unsuccessful. Therefore, if he lost all his money and is in even greater poverty now then before, it is not fair to blame that poverty on himself. He was trying to be a productive member in society, but was cheated out of his goal. When native-born whites then blame the poverty and squalor in their urban cities on immigrants it is not a fair judgment.
Bessie, the sister of Sara, worked hard at her job as well. Bessie was so committed to getting herself and her family out of poverty that she worked long hours and gave all of her paycheck to the family for their survival. While Mashah spent her pay on goods like clothing, and her own towel and hanger, Bessie wanted her family to take her money to better themselves. Her character is one way of showing how immigrants wanted success and were willing to work hard for it no matter what the consequences may be-- in Bessie’s case it was working hard with little reward for herself.
Lewis Hine’s photograph “Chile Labor Documentation Project” is another example of immigrants trying to get themselves out of poverty. In the photograph a family and their neighbors gather together to make garters. Young children are even involved in the sewing. This family will work all day and late into the night working on these garters and will likely make little profit of off them; however, they continue to work hard because they know that this is the only way to get some form of income. This photograph shows that immigrants were working extremely hard to make it in America and did not want to remain in the squalor in which they lived.
Immigrants’ Strive to Leave Poverty
While many native-born whites blamed urban poverty and squalor on immigrants, immigrants were essentially forced into poverty when they arrived. Living in poverty was not a choice, but because many of them did not have the skills necessary or know the language spoken immigrants were forced into low paying jobs--assuming they were able to get jobs in the first place. Once immigrants were in America they strived to become successful by working their way up through industry.
Anzia Yezierska uses Sara and her family in her novel Bread Givers to show native-born Americans how immigrants strived against adversity to succeed in America. In Bread Givers, Sara--the youngest daughter of a Russian immigrant--strives to get herself out of the poverty and squalor of Hester Street on the Lower East Side of New York City and become educated. Sara is unhappy with her life in poverty and sees an education as her way out. Sara recalled a story she read in the Sunday paper about a girl who was working hard in a shop and was “turning gray” until she began going to night school, then college and eventually a school teacher.# This little story set Sara on a path that would eventually lead her toward attending college and then onto her career as a teacher. The story of the girl in the paper as well as Sara’s story of how she became a teacher mirror the typical American success stories of immigrants coming out of poverty and “pulling themselves up by their bootstraps” to achieve success through education.
Sara not only has ambitions of getting an education, but she also works in a laundry while attending night school. This shows that not only does she have aspirations of a better life, but that she is working hard in the mean time so she can survive on her own. While the native-born white image of immigrants may be those who lived in filthy poverty, Sara worked hard in a laundry to save money for a new life of college and classes. Sara was trying to work her way out of poverty to a better life.
Early in the novel there is a scene in which Sara buys a fish for 25 cents and sells it later that day for 50 cents. This shows that Sara is intelligent enough to learn how to make a profit. She said that she no longer wanted to go through trash to find old coals for fire or to sit on a street corner and beg, rather she had the ingenuity to know that she could make a profit from fish peddling. This is an example of how Yezierska shows the immigrants’ drive to improve their quality of life.
Because Sara went to night classes and eventually to college she was able to pull herself out of poverty. She transformed from a poor girl living in squalor to an educated woman who could take care of herself and better her community. This is in direct opposition to how many native-born whites saw immigrants. Now, Sara is able to enjoy finer stores and a better living and proves that immigrants can work hard to become a part of American society.
Sara’s father, Reb Smolinsky, also has dreams of becoming wealthier; however, he is sent back to poverty after being taken advantage of. Reb shows that he wants a better life after he purchases the grocery store in Elizabeth. This is another example of entrepreneurialism among immigrants or of how the father was trying to “pull himself up by his bootstraps.” The reason why Reb is unsuccessful is not because of a lack of trying due to laziness, like many native-born whites may believe about immigrants’ work ethic, but it is because he is taken advantage of that he is unsuccessful. Therefore, if he lost all his money and is in even greater poverty now then before, it is not fair to blame that poverty on himself. He was trying to be a productive member in society, but was cheated out of his goal. When native-born whites then blame the poverty and squalor in their urban cities on immigrants it is not a fair judgment.
Bessie, the sister of Sara, worked hard at her job as well. Bessie was so committed to getting herself and her family out of poverty that she worked long hours and gave all of her paycheck to the family for their survival. While Mashah spent her pay on goods like clothing, and her own towel and hanger, Bessie wanted her family to take her money to better themselves. Her character is one way of showing how immigrants wanted success and were willing to work hard for it no matter what the consequences may be-- in Bessie’s case it was working hard with little reward for herself.
Lewis Hine’s photograph “Chile Labor Documentation Project” is another example of immigrants trying to get themselves out of poverty. In the photograph a family and their neighbors gather together to make garters. Young children are even involved in the sewing. This family will work all day and late into the night working on these garters and will likely make little profit of off them; however, they continue to work hard because they know that this is the only way to get some form of income. This photograph shows that immigrants were working extremely hard to make it in America and did not want to remain in the squalor in which they lived.
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