{"id":674,"date":"2023-02-05T21:40:16","date_gmt":"2023-02-06T01:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/blackandgreenatlantic\/?p=674"},"modified":"2023-02-12T15:55:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-12T19:55:44","slug":"blog-1-realization-of-class-conflict-in-moon-and-the-mars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/blackandgreenatlantic\/2023\/02\/05\/blog-1-realization-of-class-conflict-in-moon-and-the-mars\/","title":{"rendered":"Blog #1: Realization of Class Conflict in Moon and the Mars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the 1861 section of Moon and the Mars<\/em>, readers witness Theo come into a new kind of consciousness. We as readers have essentially grown up with her as she moves through life in Five Points, seeing the historically-significant world through her eyes, and consequently losing innocence as the novel progresses and Theo gains life experience. Until now, we understand Theo\u2019s financial situation to a certain extent; we know that her family is usually short on money, but we can also recognize that Theo considers herself a \u201clucky orphan\u201d because she has family, rarely lacks for food (with the exception of the depression), and always has a roof over her head. It is during the chapter titled \u201cWar\u201d that Theo realizes exactly where her and her family fall in terms of economic status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Near the beginning of the chapter, Ciaran approaches Theo and tells her that Grammy Cahill and the rest of their Irish family are rich, but Theo retorts that they are poor. Ciaran then says, \u201cWell, here\u2019s what\u2019s what, Madam Scholar. There\u2019s poor and there\u2019s poor\u201d (Corthron 306). He proceeds to show Theo his cousin\u2019s boardinghouse, which is flooded often and smells bad, and Theo realizes the extent of her privilege (Corthron 307). Shortly afterwards, Theo and Ciaran take a carriage ride through Central Park, and Jamey, the driver, tells them that the experience is extremely expensive, proclaiming, \u201cYou know when the real customers have a carriage ride, one<\/em> carriage ride, the fare could support a poor man and his family a year?\u201d (Corthron 308). Theo and Ciaran are in disbelief, and Theo once again realizes the extent of her privilege, but in a completely different light. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between these two scenes, Corthron effectively educates both Theo and the reader about class divisions and conflict in roughly four short pages. Theo experiences the living conditions of the poorest of the poor, but she also has the brief opportunity to live the high life. I felt that this was a significant moment as Theo comes of age and starts to realize her financial place in society. She experiences disgust for the boardinghouse, and a different kind of disgust for those with the money to ride in Central Park carriages. Although her situation has not changed, readers are faced with a new duality, in which Theo can both be grateful for what she has and long for what she does not. This is very important in any coming-of-age novel because it presents a new complexity that accompanies maturity, but it also might come with confusion for such a young narrator. In this way, Corthron might be attempting to speak at a universal truth about guilt and privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One response to “Blog #1: Realization of Class Conflict in Moon and the Mars”<\/h2>\n\n
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    motoole<\/div>\n\n\n