In The Short And Tragic Life of Robert Peace, a recurring theme that is present throughout the book is poverty. Robert Peace lives and deals with poverty all of the time. Throughout chapters 3, 4, and 6, living in poverty reshapes the way he analyses his surroundings, and his interactions and relationships with people he meets.
At an early age, Robert Peace realized the struggles of growing up in poverty. Rob’s mother Jackie worked long hours and made little amount of money to support both Rob and herself. Before Rob's father Skeet was sent to jail for murder, Skeet had become a huge part of Rob’s life. While his mother was out working, Skeet would help Rob with homework, buy school supplies and clothes for Rob and take him out for walks around …show more content…
His mother Jackie worked low end jobs that provided little resources for Jackie and Rob. Like many kids his age, they wanted fresh food, new clothes, new toys etc. Rob on the other hand did not complain about the things he did not have rather he was more appreciative of the things he did have. Rob once told his friend to stop complaining about the things he does have. "You're getting served steak and lobster, getting sleep in your own bedroom with your bathroom and a maid - and you're starting shit over some words about shoes?...Don't be such a bitch T.” The difference between privileged and unprivileged people is that the privileged sometimes do not appreciate the things they have. What Rob means is that, he has it worse than his friend and he is not complaining. On christmas, “Jackie could manage no more than some homemade baked goods and stocking stuffers. Rob didn’t seem to mind… he told her that he considered the used bike to be an early christmas present”. Rob was a realist. He understood that he may not be privileged as other kids but, he had to move on with life and try and make the best of it. If Rob dwells too much on the fact that he does live in poverty, it may throw him off in school or even push to do something he may
At an early age, Robert Peace realized the struggles of growing up in poverty. Rob’s mother Jackie worked long hours and made little amount of money to support both Rob and herself. Before Rob's father Skeet was sent to jail for murder, Skeet had become a huge part of Rob’s life. While his mother was out working, Skeet would help Rob with homework, buy school supplies and clothes for Rob and take him out for walks around …show more content…
His mother Jackie worked low end jobs that provided little resources for Jackie and Rob. Like many kids his age, they wanted fresh food, new clothes, new toys etc. Rob on the other hand did not complain about the things he did not have rather he was more appreciative of the things he did have. Rob once told his friend to stop complaining about the things he does have. "You're getting served steak and lobster, getting sleep in your own bedroom with your bathroom and a maid - and you're starting shit over some words about shoes?...Don't be such a bitch T.” The difference between privileged and unprivileged people is that the privileged sometimes do not appreciate the things they have. What Rob means is that, he has it worse than his friend and he is not complaining. On christmas, “Jackie could manage no more than some homemade baked goods and stocking stuffers. Rob didn’t seem to mind… he told her that he considered the used bike to be an early christmas present”. Rob was a realist. He understood that he may not be privileged as other kids but, he had to move on with life and try and make the best of it. If Rob dwells too much on the fact that he does live in poverty, it may throw him off in school or even push to do something he may