Post by Meriah Rose on Aug 8, 2011 17:14:27 GMT -5
While reading the novel, Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, several questions arose in my mind. One particular question was: Why did her colleagues express a remarkable amount of generosity and goodwill towards her? The people she worked with were equally unfortunate and did not have much to share, yet Barbara never went to a job without meeting someone willing to share their meager meal with her, to share a secret double life with her, or to share an interesting story with her. Thus, I find a reasonable conclusion would be to say the minimum wage residents of our country show an extraordinary amount of hospitality towards one another despite their own difficult situations and lack of material goods to present. The characters in Ehrenreich’s novel demonstrate the best parts of any person; desire to help others and make the world a better place.
While working at Wal-Mart, Barbara meets a lady named Melissa. Melissa, like Ehrenreich, is a minimum wage employee. But despite Melissa’s meager income she still offers Barbara food. When Barbara had opened up to Melissa and shared the details of her cheap motel and fast food diet, Melissa found a generosity inside of herself and brought Barbara a homemade sandwich for lunch. She states, “Now I’m embarrassed, and beyond that overwhelmed to discover a covert stream of generosity running counter to the dominant corporate miserliness.” (pg 163) Barbara is unexpectedly offered generosity by Melissa, and it’s a kindness which leaves the reader feeling momentarily warmed in the midst of a novel filled with the harshness of an American’s everyday struggles.
In Maine Barbara is employed at a residential facility. On her breaks she sat with a boy named Pete. “If his story is to be believed, he’s as much an imposter as I am…. If he’s so rich, I can’t help wondering, then why is he driving this rusty old wreck and how come his front teeth are so scraggly and sparse?” (pg 65) When Barbara questions him about his employment at the facility he claims he tried staying home, but he went stir-crazy and was compelled to the human community. Pete would rather be amongst the minimum wage workers of Maine, then to spend his time alone. He found the people interesting and he clearly saw the good in people. Pete’s views on life our refreshing yet puzzling, concluding that wealth will never be a substitute for human companionship.
At the restaurant Barbara renamed Hearthside several interesting characters are introduced. The appeal found in the characters is their detailed descriptions of their lives. The reader learns much about the different employees and can begin to visualize them and their struggles. “Gail is sharing a room in a well-known downtown flophouse for $250 a week. Her roommate, a male friend, has begun hitting on her, driving her nuts, but the rent would be impossible alone.” (pg 25) After reading that statement one can begin to see Gail and the hardships she face. Barbara retells the stories that several of her coworkers told to her, in such detail that one might wonder how she came of all the information. But these people were her friends and told her the tales of their lives; demonstrating a sense of companionship and trust.
The novel Nickel and Dimed provided interesting insight and information to the reader. But I think major life lessons can be learned through this true story. No matter what their income or their personal hardships may be, people will always want to do good for others. Humankind has developed a sense of generosity and goodwill and as long of one of us are struggling, the rest of us will be there with a helping hand.
While working at Wal-Mart, Barbara meets a lady named Melissa. Melissa, like Ehrenreich, is a minimum wage employee. But despite Melissa’s meager income she still offers Barbara food. When Barbara had opened up to Melissa and shared the details of her cheap motel and fast food diet, Melissa found a generosity inside of herself and brought Barbara a homemade sandwich for lunch. She states, “Now I’m embarrassed, and beyond that overwhelmed to discover a covert stream of generosity running counter to the dominant corporate miserliness.” (pg 163) Barbara is unexpectedly offered generosity by Melissa, and it’s a kindness which leaves the reader feeling momentarily warmed in the midst of a novel filled with the harshness of an American’s everyday struggles.
In Maine Barbara is employed at a residential facility. On her breaks she sat with a boy named Pete. “If his story is to be believed, he’s as much an imposter as I am…. If he’s so rich, I can’t help wondering, then why is he driving this rusty old wreck and how come his front teeth are so scraggly and sparse?” (pg 65) When Barbara questions him about his employment at the facility he claims he tried staying home, but he went stir-crazy and was compelled to the human community. Pete would rather be amongst the minimum wage workers of Maine, then to spend his time alone. He found the people interesting and he clearly saw the good in people. Pete’s views on life our refreshing yet puzzling, concluding that wealth will never be a substitute for human companionship.
At the restaurant Barbara renamed Hearthside several interesting characters are introduced. The appeal found in the characters is their detailed descriptions of their lives. The reader learns much about the different employees and can begin to visualize them and their struggles. “Gail is sharing a room in a well-known downtown flophouse for $250 a week. Her roommate, a male friend, has begun hitting on her, driving her nuts, but the rent would be impossible alone.” (pg 25) After reading that statement one can begin to see Gail and the hardships she face. Barbara retells the stories that several of her coworkers told to her, in such detail that one might wonder how she came of all the information. But these people were her friends and told her the tales of their lives; demonstrating a sense of companionship and trust.
The novel Nickel and Dimed provided interesting insight and information to the reader. But I think major life lessons can be learned through this true story. No matter what their income or their personal hardships may be, people will always want to do good for others. Humankind has developed a sense of generosity and goodwill and as long of one of us are struggling, the rest of us will be there with a helping hand.