Marvy Baslous English E1HPI-2
January 4, 2106 E. Braisted, Instructor MLA Book Report for “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith
I. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith constructs a bildungsroman. In other words, a coming of age novel is presented to the readers. A development of the protagonist Francie is shown as she undergoes a self-analysis as she matures while living in a poor area of Brooklyn. Subsequently, Smith’s use of maturity throughout the novel helps readers explore the ideas of family relationships, loneliness, loss of innocence, and disease and death.
II. Francie and her family lived during an age of grinding poverty. At today’s circumstances the Nolans wouldn’t be considered “rich” at the slightest, but more …show more content…
At the end however, you grow up for the better. A prime example of this is the protagonist of the novel, Francie Nolan. Keeping in mind that the Nolans have low income, Francie tries not to let it get in her way of enjoying herself with all the small materials she finds. For example, the piano in which they learn how to play like their father, or the conch shell that was found in the living room. Betty Smith conjures up a bildungsroman, or coming of age, novel which shows the maturation of Francie and over time, her fall from innocence. She learns to appreciate the world and the life that she was given. “’Let me be something every minute of every hour of my life….. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost” (Smith 421). At this point in the falling action, it didn’t matter to Francie whether she was poor or not. She was just focused on living her life to the fullest. While on her date with Lee, Francie comes to realization that happiness isn’t a faraway place, but instead is within the small things in life that people tend to overlook. Smith makes it clear that Francie isn’t 100% her mother or vice versa. In fact, she possesses her father’s quality of appreciating beauty, and inherits Katie’s purpose and her strength of mind. While Katie and Francie are more alike than they admit, Francie realizes that her mother favors Neeley and continually fights for her mother’s …show more content…
Certain aspects of her life were no longer mysterious or pleasurable as they once were. To top everything off, Johnny passes away due to his foolish lifestyle. “He had pneumonia…. Already he was in the coma that came before death” (Smith 282). After his children find out, it seems that Francie is in shock or denial for she shows no emotion or feeling of surprise and grief. Because of Johnny’s drinking problem when he was alive, that was also partially the reason that he died, but the kids were not told this because Katie wanted them to keep their own identity. “It isn’t their fault that their father…that he died from what you said. It would mean a lot to me if I could tell them that their father died of pneumonia alone” (Smith 285). The scene that was just described is known as the climax because that is when the conflict or the tension hits its highest point. Let’s not forget about the crisis, however. What led to Johnny being found huddled in a doorway unconscious? Prior to this event Johnny lost his job and was going through a period of depression. “They said I was a bum and a drunk. They said they’d never give me another job as long as I live” (Smith 280). That being the case, Johnny started to act differently and people started to treat him worse. All in all, Johnny probably couldn’t take the stress anymore and gave up.
January 4, 2106 E. Braisted, Instructor MLA Book Report for “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith
I. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith constructs a bildungsroman. In other words, a coming of age novel is presented to the readers. A development of the protagonist Francie is shown as she undergoes a self-analysis as she matures while living in a poor area of Brooklyn. Subsequently, Smith’s use of maturity throughout the novel helps readers explore the ideas of family relationships, loneliness, loss of innocence, and disease and death.
II. Francie and her family lived during an age of grinding poverty. At today’s circumstances the Nolans wouldn’t be considered “rich” at the slightest, but more …show more content…
At the end however, you grow up for the better. A prime example of this is the protagonist of the novel, Francie Nolan. Keeping in mind that the Nolans have low income, Francie tries not to let it get in her way of enjoying herself with all the small materials she finds. For example, the piano in which they learn how to play like their father, or the conch shell that was found in the living room. Betty Smith conjures up a bildungsroman, or coming of age, novel which shows the maturation of Francie and over time, her fall from innocence. She learns to appreciate the world and the life that she was given. “’Let me be something every minute of every hour of my life….. And when I sleep, let me dream all the time so that not one little piece of living is ever lost” (Smith 421). At this point in the falling action, it didn’t matter to Francie whether she was poor or not. She was just focused on living her life to the fullest. While on her date with Lee, Francie comes to realization that happiness isn’t a faraway place, but instead is within the small things in life that people tend to overlook. Smith makes it clear that Francie isn’t 100% her mother or vice versa. In fact, she possesses her father’s quality of appreciating beauty, and inherits Katie’s purpose and her strength of mind. While Katie and Francie are more alike than they admit, Francie realizes that her mother favors Neeley and continually fights for her mother’s …show more content…
Certain aspects of her life were no longer mysterious or pleasurable as they once were. To top everything off, Johnny passes away due to his foolish lifestyle. “He had pneumonia…. Already he was in the coma that came before death” (Smith 282). After his children find out, it seems that Francie is in shock or denial for she shows no emotion or feeling of surprise and grief. Because of Johnny’s drinking problem when he was alive, that was also partially the reason that he died, but the kids were not told this because Katie wanted them to keep their own identity. “It isn’t their fault that their father…that he died from what you said. It would mean a lot to me if I could tell them that their father died of pneumonia alone” (Smith 285). The scene that was just described is known as the climax because that is when the conflict or the tension hits its highest point. Let’s not forget about the crisis, however. What led to Johnny being found huddled in a doorway unconscious? Prior to this event Johnny lost his job and was going through a period of depression. “They said I was a bum and a drunk. They said they’d never give me another job as long as I live” (Smith 280). That being the case, Johnny started to act differently and people started to treat him worse. All in all, Johnny probably couldn’t take the stress anymore and gave up.