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
Nan, You are so right. That description of the grandmother has stayed with me for weeks. I want to think that the family was doing the best they could but to leave someone behind (knowing that they will die) just makes my heartache.
Guess, that means it was powerful writing.
Leslie, I looked up a few photos of FDR as a young man prior to him having polio. He was handsome but there was also a cocky assurance that comes across from his expressions. I can appreciate how much he grew as a person from having polio, and while he suffered, it did make him a better person and helped him to evolve into the leader the country needed.
While this was more of a personal note about Frances, it struck me how the incident of Sinclair Lewis calling outside her window that he loved her and wanted to marry her, led Frances to her future with Paul. I found it very interesting the way she framed the words and actions of “Red” in that situation, as a man who would treat a wife as a possession. I also agree with the comments about the awful poverty conditions and that of FDR getting polio.
Our book club discussed TRIANGLE: THE FIRE THAT CHANGED AMERICA
by David vonDrehle many years ago. Very few (only the two who grew up in
New York) had ever heard of the fire. I would highly recommend this book to
anyone wanting to know more about it.
Frances was traumatized by the young girl who lost her hand in the candy factory accident and infuriated by the heartless response of the factory owner. She was also spurred into action by the plight of the young mother who was unable to feed her children while her husband was in prison. I concur with all of the examples that other readers have described. She was also powerfully motivated by her experiences with the state legislators in Albany; she saw their duplicity and selfishness in person and learned how to beat them at their own game.
When Paul had his “break” with reality, and Francis realized what was happening…
her entire life changed. He had been her best friend, advisor, parenting partner,
and great supporter. She now had to ‘go it alone’, while worrying about his well
being and their daughter’s struggles with identity in the teen years.
I jotted down events that I thought had changed the direction of Perkins’ life. Then I read the other comments, and quickly checked off my ideas because they were mine, too. The big impact on Perkins was meeting FDR who much later chose her as the first female cabinet member and Secretary of Labor.