Flowers By J. D. Vance: Summary

The term hillbilly refers to an unsophisticated country person, associated originally with the remote regions of the Appalachians. However, J.D. Vance uses the word to describe a community of people who are a product of their environment. Throughout the book he lets us into his life, telling many different stories about his life as an adolescent. Facing drug abuse, domestic violence, and an unstable family structure he speaks of his struggles to overcome the tough times and trails he faced growing up in a place where nothing ever changed. He proves to the readers that even though society may view him as destined to fail where you come from doesn’t always define where your headed. Unsatisfied with the complacent attitudes of the hillbillies who accepted their circumstances and never tried to break the cycle, is what drives Vance to examine the nature of the working class’s problems.
Moving from one socioeconomic class to another he thrives on the beliefs that one must fully throw …show more content…
Having no support from him mother and having to rely solely on Mawmaw and Papaw which he refers to as his best friends he treasured the summers spent in Jackson, Kentucky. The community in Jackson was deeply rooted in their beliefs of loyalty and honor, Vance identified it as his true home as it represented a positive family influence which he deeply longed for. Family lore was highly important in Jackson he illustrates the importance of hillbilly oral storytelling. One story, for example, spoke of a truck driver called Big Red. When Big Red was delivering a shipment, and told Uncle Pet, “Off-load this now, you son of a bitch,” Pet responded, “When you say that, you’re calling my dear old mother a bitch, so I’d kindly ask you speak more carefully.” Big Red refused to take back what he said, instead repeating the insult. Uncle Pet dragged the man from his truck, beat