How does poverty affect people’s upbringing, motivation and life goals?
The way poverty affects people's upbringing, motivation, and life goals all comes down to whether or not that family has their own morals. Poverty which usually has charity following it, may cause people to feel entitled, depending on whether they have their own morals and a sense of independence. The Ewell's are examples of a group of people who do not have very high standards, morals, or expectations out of life. The Ewell's were allowed to do many things, "they didn't have to go to school, for one thing. Another thing, Mr. Bob Ewell, Burris's father, was permitted to hunt and trap out of season" (31). Although this is against the law, and most people that know this would not accept this kind of charity or pity but the Ewell's will take anything they can get. Was it there lack of motivation that caused them to feel that the charity they were given was well deserved, or was it the fact that they felt superior? Considering they never bother to complete school, their motivation is obviously extremely poor and they do not have many life goals, so could it be that they feel that they are so important and superior, not realizing that they are actually lower than dirt, and if they do feel superior, what made them have that thought? But on the other hand, the Cunningham's were raised, or rather live in poverty as well, but still attend school and they "never took anything they can't pay back--- no church baskets and no scrip stamps. They never took anything off of anybody, they get along on what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it" (20). Unlike the Ewell's, the Cunningham's realize the importance of being able to depend on themselves, obey the laws, and get along with what they have. For them, being able to depend on what they have alone is very important considering they plan to get out of this poverty, and do great things with there life... great things that would be impossible if they were unable to spare any pennies because they continued having to pay off debt. Their motivation is fairly high, considering their father would benefit more by having them on the fields rather than getting an education. They realize the importance of education and how it will help in the future to get them to where they actually want to be. Furthermore, unlike the Ewell boy's, the Cunningham's have respect. Many times could it be assumed that the Ewell's should have more respect for people when they are allowing them to bend the rules. But it is actually the Cunningham who do not want to disrespect anyone and attempt to say no to the teacher in a polite way without hurting her feelings. The Ewell boy made sure to make the teacher cry. The affect poverty has on the upbringing, motivation, and life goals all depends on the family and what they have been through. Sometimes its affect can be positive and other times very negative. Such as for the Ewell's the wife had died before they were even married, suicide it sounded like, why no one knew but the father took up drinking shortly after and probably hasn't been sobered since. The Cunningham's also do not have a wife or mother, but the father did not have to experience something as traumatic as having a wife-to-be kill herself the night before marrying with no note to explain why. Automatically the guilt or blame would be on Mr. Ewell's shoulders, not being able to handle it he took on drinking to ease the pain. Realizing it was much easier to be numb than to have to deal with the guilt residing in his brain. Poverty can impact upbringing, motivation, and life goals both positively and negatively as seen after comparing the Ewell's and Cunningham's.
The way poverty affects people's upbringing, motivation, and life goals all comes down to whether or not that family has their own morals. Poverty which usually has charity following it, may cause people to feel entitled, depending on whether they have their own morals and a sense of independence. The Ewell's are examples of a group of people who do not have very high standards, morals, or expectations out of life. The Ewell's were allowed to do many things, "they didn't have to go to school, for one thing. Another thing, Mr. Bob Ewell, Burris's father, was permitted to hunt and trap out of season" (31). Although this is against the law, and most people that know this would not accept this kind of charity or pity but the Ewell's will take anything they can get. Was it there lack of motivation that caused them to feel that the charity they were given was well deserved, or was it the fact that they felt superior? Considering they never bother to complete school, their motivation is obviously extremely poor and they do not have many life goals, so could it be that they feel that they are so important and superior, not realizing that they are actually lower than dirt, and if they do feel superior, what made them have that thought? But on the other hand, the Cunningham's were raised, or rather live in poverty as well, but still attend school and they "never took anything they can't pay back--- no church baskets and no scrip stamps. They never took anything off of anybody, they get along on what they have. They don't have much, but they get along on it" (20). Unlike the Ewell's, the Cunningham's realize the importance of being able to depend on themselves, obey the laws, and get along with what they have. For them, being able to depend on what they have alone is very important considering they plan to get out of this poverty, and do great things with there life... great things that would be impossible if they were unable to spare any pennies because they continued having to pay off debt. Their motivation is fairly high, considering their father would benefit more by having them on the fields rather than getting an education. They realize the importance of education and how it will help in the future to get them to where they actually want to be. Furthermore, unlike the Ewell boy's, the Cunningham's have respect. Many times could it be assumed that the Ewell's should have more respect for people when they are allowing them to bend the rules. But it is actually the Cunningham who do not want to disrespect anyone and attempt to say no to the teacher in a polite way without hurting her feelings. The Ewell boy made sure to make the teacher cry. The affect poverty has on the upbringing, motivation, and life goals all depends on the family and what they have been through. Sometimes its affect can be positive and other times very negative. Such as for the Ewell's the wife had died before they were even married, suicide it sounded like, why no one knew but the father took up drinking shortly after and probably hasn't been sobered since. The Cunningham's also do not have a wife or mother, but the father did not have to experience something as traumatic as having a wife-to-be kill herself the night before marrying with no note to explain why. Automatically the guilt or blame would be on Mr. Ewell's shoulders, not being able to handle it he took on drinking to ease the pain. Realizing it was much easier to be numb than to have to deal with the guilt residing in his brain. Poverty can impact upbringing, motivation, and life goals both positively and negatively as seen after comparing the Ewell's and Cunningham's.