Josh Grondowski Character Analysis

Josh Grondowski experiences many emotions during the time of the depression. Out on his journey, Josh feels sadness. When he leaves home, his best friend Howie joins him. They jump trains to go to a small town to pursue their dreams of becoming musicians. It was Howie’s turn to jump, then after that Josh didn’t know what happened. Howie got thrown into the tracks and Josh “saw Howie’s body lifted by the express train and thrown down the tracks as if it had been an empty crate” (Hunt 45). Josh didn’t know what to do at this point, and this would impact how he would continue through the discouraging times. He would feel sadness at the loss of his best friend. Without his friend by his side, Josh feels responsible for Joey. He must now look after Joey and keep him safe. When Joey runs away from Josh, it is frightening to him that he might have lost Joey forever. On a radio broadcast, there is a story of a boy found in a collapsed barn. Josh knew it must …show more content…
Josh asks his mother for another potato, but Stefan says “there [are not] any more potatoes, and if [he] [has not] had enough, that [it] is just too damned bad” (Hunt27). Not to mention that he also encourages Josh to work instead of playing the piano so he can provide for the family. Josh becomes a paper boy that works early in the mornings. He took his father’s advice on getting a job, even if it is a low paying one. Additionally, Stefan meets with other men to find work. He meets with people that generally have the same problems. This is beneficial because Stefan can find work easier if he has those people to help him. Stefan leaves his home every morning to stand in lines to get into a factory. He waits on Western Avenue all day to try to receive a job. One day he can hopefully get into the factory to make money. Stefan uses these survival techniques to help support his family