The Lost Beautifulness Anzia Yezierska Summary

Anzia Yezierska was a modernist who represented the obstacles of immigrants living in the urban areas of the United States. In her short story, “The Lost Beautifulness”, Yezierska focuses on a poor woman’s (Hanneh Hayyeh) attempt to beautify her home in order to impress her son, who returns from the United States Military. Yezierska uses restrictive and figurative language to expose the discontent the poor felt towards their socio-economic status, at the same time, she uses the newly painted kitchen scenario to symbolically represent the American dream as desirable but unrealistic and deceptive. Moreover, the use of irony helps expose the power of those in charge and their ability to take advantage of the disempowered. Thus, Yezierska critiques …show more content…
Thus, this signals that ill-favored places are destined to those who have no wealth. The first-time Yezierska hinders that her protagonist is displeased with only being able to afford the minimal is when she confesses to her husband that she painted the kitchen. After Hayyeh’s husband shows his disapproval for her wasting money on the paint she yells, “ What do I got from living if I can’t have a little beautifulness in my life? I don’t allow for myself the ten cents to go to a moving picture that I’m crazy to see. I never yet treated myself to an ice-cream soda even for a holiday”(1). The importance of this quote is that Yezierska uses restrictive phrases such as, “I can’t”, “I don’t”, and “ I never”. By using diction such as “I can’t” the reader is immediately forced to believe that the protagonist is confined to a place. In this case, the protagonist cannot escape extreme poverty. Similarly, Yezierska uses diction such as “I don’t” and “I never” to emphasize that lacking wealth will result in failure to do things that bring one satisfaction. Most importantly, the latter phrases serve as a constant reminder that certain places are forbidden. Furthermore, Yezierska also uses figurative language to dramatically illustrate the frustration of having a low socio-economic …show more content…
More specifically, how irony helps expose the power of those in charge and their ability to take advantage of the disempowered. Yezierska made it clear that Hayyeh worked really hard in order to fix her house. In fact, she wanted everyone to recognize how beautiful her kitchen looked. Instead of being praised by her husband, neighbors, or Landlord, Hayyeh gets critiqued and taken advantage off. The first person who disagrees with her actions is her husband who states,”...you know nothing from holding tight to a dollar and saving a penny to a penny like poor people should”(1). What is ironic about this example is that Hayyeh expected a joyous response, but instead her proudest achievement resulted in anger and arguments. Moreover, the most ironic part of the short story is the actions of the wealthy Landlord. Even though the Landlord knew that the protagonist was struggling to make ends meet he cynically raised her rent. Unapologetically, the Landlord states, “[t]hat don’t concern me. If you can’t pay, somebody else will. I got to look out for myself. In America everybody looks out for himself…”(5). The importance of this quote is that the Landlord knew that a freshly painted kitchen is worth more, so he was determined to take advantage of the situation. Despite the fact that the Landlord does nothing