NAME: Shannen Narace FORM: 5:4

Tuesday 25th May,2021.

English B
PROSE QUESTION

"The stories 'The Man of the House' and 'Mom Luby and the Social Worker' are both stories
about economic challenges."

Write an essay in which you focus on this theme in these TWO stories. For EACH story,
describe the economic challenge faced. You must also discuss how the economic challenge
strengthens OR shapes the children's relationships with their parent or guardian. Finally, for
EACH story, you must examine ONE technique used to portray the theme of economic
challenges.

Economic challenges evolve in both stories as both families were phased in them. In “The
Man of the House” a ten-year-old boy tries to help his ill mother get better. Their economic
instability is seen within their daily lifestyle for instance the food they eat and the house they
live in. The story suggests that the boy’s mother is a single parent and is probably
unemployed however economical by the way she manages things like the sticks for the fire,
in which their financial status is defined. Furthermore, as the boy’s mother began to get
worse, to be treated, the boy had to obtain a ticket which proved their inability to pay for a
doctor.
“Mom Luby and the Social Worker” also has this similar issue, poverty. Mom Luby is an old
lady that cares for two young children and tries to provide for them. Mom Luby manages
many different jobs such as being a midwife, a doctor, a church minister and manages her
own little restaurant. Despite all the jobs she has, she still sought Financial Aid as she needs
to get school necessities for the children. Mom Luby’s ability to manage these jobs and raise
these children as a single mother as well, also defines her financial status.
The boy in “The Man of the House” and the children, Puddin’ and Elijah, in “Mom Luby and
the Social Worker” both depicts a fond love for their mothers. The boy did everything he
could to help his mother feel better in spite of drinking her cough medicine. Puddin’ and
Elijah both played by Mom Luby’s lie because they did not want to be taken away from her
by the Social Welfare officials. This profound love from the children indicates their
understanding to their financial circumstances and the sacrifices made by their mothers.
Both writers of the stories use the quality of the families’ lifestyle as a technique to portray
the theme of economic challenges. Both parents are single mothers that tries to raise their
children despite their challenges. This technique is proven as the boy went for aid to prove
that his mother cannot pay for a doctor in ‘The Man of the House’ and Mom Luby sought
financial aid to purchase school requirements for her children in ‘Mom Luby and the Social
Worker.’