As a setting analysis, Arna Bontemps wrote “A Summer of Tragedy” in the year 1933. She wrote the story during high color segregation and economic depression in America. The story is set near the Mississippi River, in the fertile lands of New Orleans. It narrates the story of Jennie and Jeff, an old married couple, who had lost hope in life. According to Arna, the couple experienced huge debts, sickness, and pain of losing their five children in a duration of two years. The story was written when most African Americans were not allowed to own land. It was a period when slavery was a reality, and America was still in the struggle to end slavery. A majority of the African Americans were employed by the white people in their farms. The story’s central theme is desperation and hopelessness that are depicted as the main characters. Poverty is also the primary cause of Patton’s life struggle.
The fact that all of their children have died devastates them. Despite the fact that they wear their best clothes occasionally, they are filled with holes. The couple did not have sufficient food to eat, making their health deplorable (Chapman 88). Love is another common theme in the story. The Patton’s love each other so much, and their affection is shown in the story. Jennie is depicted as a selfless individual who cares more about the husband than her health. Though in pain, she manages to fix the husband’s bow tie and feels satisfied whenever the husband comes home. Jeff’s act of preferring to die rather than burdening the wife shows love. The other themes in the story include loyalty, hard work, commitment, and devotion. Jeff has been working on a particular farm for forty- five years, which is a long period. Despite disagreeing with his master, he continues to work on the farm. He works for Stevenson even despite the master being indebted to him.
The social behavior that exists in modern society is desperation and hopelessness among the poor. Poverty is witnessed in most parts of the world, including sub- Saharan Africa. Some people in the world struggle with the nutritional ailments caused by insufficient food. The nutritional ailments include kwashiorkor and marasmus despite economic developments (Shaffer 1767). However, alleviating poverty is one of the global agendas today (Rubenstein 775). Poverty eradication has been a problem with the responsible entities duplicating projects that have already failed.
Works Cited
Chapman, Abraham. Black Voices: An Anthology of African-American Literature. New York, NY: Signet Classic, 2001. Print.
Shaffer, Paul. “Post-development and Poverty: an assessment.” Third World Quarterly 33.10 (2012): 1767- 1782.
Rubenstein, Jennifer. “Pluralism about Global Poverty.” British Journal of Political Science 43.4 (2013): 775- 797.