Crawford Rummel

Professor Clark

American Literature after 1865

30 August 2017

In Theodore Dreisers Old Rogaum and His Theresa, an insight is given into the lives of the

immigrants who moved to New York over a century ago. Dreiser wrote this story in third person,

but this story is also multi-focal because the perspectives of Theresa and her father are seen

frequently throughout the story. Regarding Theresa, Dreiser accomplishes showing the

perspective of a young immigrants daughter by showing her emotions to her father when he

tries and keeps her inside and away from the young toughs. He also uses her thoughts to show

that she is still scared of her father beating her for missing curfew, which was extremely

common during these times. Dreiser also accomplished showing the perspective of her father

through his thoughts of being worried and angry at his daughter for always staying out late. He

also portrayed Mr. Rogaums distaste for the American boys, as he wanted her to only be around

German boys and not with the young tough American boys. He also does a good job at

portraying the fact that even though Rogaum is angry at his daughter for staying out too late, he

still worries and cares about her that he wanders the streets aimlessly looking for her throughout

the night.