"The Richer, the Poorer" Character Anaylsis
Mikal Hayden - Gates
Character Analysis Essay
4/2/13
The Richer, The Poorer
In Dorothy West's short story, The Richer, The Poorer, the reader is introduced to two distinct characters: Lottie and Bess. Unlike Lottie, Bess was the type of person who “lived each day as if there were no other.” Bess never settled in one place; she and her husband Harry lived as gypsies and even got stuck in Europe. Lottie on the other hand lived as a miser whose source of excitement was going to work and saving money. Although she was rich, Lottie lacked emotion and character when compared to her sister Bess. She can be described as cheap and superficial; these traits prevent Lottie from experiencing love and excitement in her life, making it miserable. Even at a young age Lottie and Bess were noticeably different. Lottie began working once she was old enough. As she got older Lottie began to care more about money. As a child Lottie hated not being able to afford the things she wanted. As she got older and worked more, she began to care more about money. Eventually Lottie dropped out of high school to work full time. Bess, on the other hand, married her boyfriend Harry straight out of high school. Lottie was determined to earn and save all the money she made. She avoided spending it on anything she felt was unnecessary, which turned to be almost everything. Lottie’s need for money prevented her from experiencing love like her sister. The narrator stated, “Lottie never married ... Two or three times she was halfway persuaded, but to give up a job that paid well for a home making job that paid nothing was a risk she was incapable of taking”. Lottie’s unwillingness to lose money made her choose her job over love. She decided to never get married because she feared having to settle for a low paying, stay at home job. Although Bess’s marriage was nothing for Lottie to envy, Lottie’s life lacked love because of money.
Lottie’s love of money led her to cut herself off from her
Character Analysis Essay
4/2/13
The Richer, The Poorer
In Dorothy West's short story, The Richer, The Poorer, the reader is introduced to two distinct characters: Lottie and Bess. Unlike Lottie, Bess was the type of person who “lived each day as if there were no other.” Bess never settled in one place; she and her husband Harry lived as gypsies and even got stuck in Europe. Lottie on the other hand lived as a miser whose source of excitement was going to work and saving money. Although she was rich, Lottie lacked emotion and character when compared to her sister Bess. She can be described as cheap and superficial; these traits prevent Lottie from experiencing love and excitement in her life, making it miserable. Even at a young age Lottie and Bess were noticeably different. Lottie began working once she was old enough. As she got older Lottie began to care more about money. As a child Lottie hated not being able to afford the things she wanted. As she got older and worked more, she began to care more about money. Eventually Lottie dropped out of high school to work full time. Bess, on the other hand, married her boyfriend Harry straight out of high school. Lottie was determined to earn and save all the money she made. She avoided spending it on anything she felt was unnecessary, which turned to be almost everything. Lottie’s need for money prevented her from experiencing love like her sister. The narrator stated, “Lottie never married ... Two or three times she was halfway persuaded, but to give up a job that paid well for a home making job that paid nothing was a risk she was incapable of taking”. Lottie’s unwillingness to lose money made her choose her job over love. She decided to never get married because she feared having to settle for a low paying, stay at home job. Although Bess’s marriage was nothing for Lottie to envy, Lottie’s life lacked love because of money.
Lottie’s love of money led her to cut herself off from her