Vance’s Powerful Perspective
Many people in our world live their lives day in and day without taking the second to realize all of the different perspectives each person has. A Limitless amount of arguments occur because people don’t take the time to try to understand others perspectives. Countless amount of wars have been caused by conflicts in views. Regardless of who you are, each one of us has a unique perspective on the world. Perspectives are a product of our surroundings and the events that occur throughout our lives. J.D. Vance, in his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy”, gives us his life story through his own, unique perspective. This memoir is so important and should be read by all Americans because it enlightens us, through the eyes of someone …show more content…
He used a specific example when he was working a $13 wage job at a floor tile distribution business. One of his co-workers was a 19-year-old kid with a pregnant wife. Although the kid should have been working very hard so he can save money for his child and girlfriend he was a very lazy and an unreliable worker. Finally, the boss had enough of it and decided to fire him and the kid was very angry and confused why he lost his job. In conclusion to this example, Vance states, “There is a lack of agency here—a feeling that you have little control over your life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself. This is distinct from the larger economic landscape of modern America.” (2016: 7) In another example later on, in the book, he describes when his friend quit his job because he didn’t like waking up early. Later, the friend complained about his woes and blamed his loss of job on Obama. Instead of viewing the working class as victims, Vance says that these people are largely responsible for their own demise. Vance believes this problem can’t be solved with government intervention, but with a change of culture as a whole which is nearly impossible. These people have a sense of learned helplessness because it is the norm of the culture. This gives us insight into his group’s problem of upward economic mobility. Through his real-life experiences, Vance gives us his
Many people in our world live their lives day in and day without taking the second to realize all of the different perspectives each person has. A Limitless amount of arguments occur because people don’t take the time to try to understand others perspectives. Countless amount of wars have been caused by conflicts in views. Regardless of who you are, each one of us has a unique perspective on the world. Perspectives are a product of our surroundings and the events that occur throughout our lives. J.D. Vance, in his memoir “Hillbilly Elegy”, gives us his life story through his own, unique perspective. This memoir is so important and should be read by all Americans because it enlightens us, through the eyes of someone …show more content…
He used a specific example when he was working a $13 wage job at a floor tile distribution business. One of his co-workers was a 19-year-old kid with a pregnant wife. Although the kid should have been working very hard so he can save money for his child and girlfriend he was a very lazy and an unreliable worker. Finally, the boss had enough of it and decided to fire him and the kid was very angry and confused why he lost his job. In conclusion to this example, Vance states, “There is a lack of agency here—a feeling that you have little control over your life and a willingness to blame everyone but yourself. This is distinct from the larger economic landscape of modern America.” (2016: 7) In another example later on, in the book, he describes when his friend quit his job because he didn’t like waking up early. Later, the friend complained about his woes and blamed his loss of job on Obama. Instead of viewing the working class as victims, Vance says that these people are largely responsible for their own demise. Vance believes this problem can’t be solved with government intervention, but with a change of culture as a whole which is nearly impossible. These people have a sense of learned helplessness because it is the norm of the culture. This gives us insight into his group’s problem of upward economic mobility. Through his real-life experiences, Vance gives us his