The Triangle shirtwaist factory fire profoundly impacted Perkins. Can you think of other examples from the novel where a single event changed the direction of a character’s life?
Of course the single event of contracting polio changed Franklin Roosevelt’s life. I was very interested in his evolution as a politician and as a person.
When Perkins traveled through the Midwest she recalled seeing a grandmother stay behind as her family left for a better life. This account might have been fictionalized by the author; however, in the book this image of the grieving elder stayed with Perkins. In reality, she was probably overwhelmed by images of poverty. Whether older people, adults or children, Perkins’ determination was affected.
I think her working in the crowded tenements in Hell’s Kitchen significantly affected her understanding of how difficult it was for parents to support their children during hard times.
I think that the sconces that described the poverty and lack of housing, especially towards working women and their children, played a pivotal role in shaping her desire to create a better life for women. This, in turn leas to a better life for everyone