Often times, we are compelled to take certain actions due to our financial hardships. These actions may vary from stealing to faking an act to receive sympathy. Similarly, in “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight,” a family of four creates an façade in order to receive higher prices for their tobacco in a tobacco field. The author uses various literary elements in order to underscore the theme of economic hardships.
One way the author conveys economic hardships is through the use of characterization. This is evident in the characterization of the dad: “- he looks away, as if the buyers are a common, bland species of a bird on an otherwise more exciting safari.” Here, it shows the dads’ character. It is implied that he seems to making a manipulative ploy, which suggests that he doesn’t need the buyers to accept his product. Furthermore, another evidence which explores the dads’ character is evident in: “If dad disagrees with the price the buyer has offered, he tears the ticket.” Here, it shows that the father has a specific …show more content…
The excerpt begins with: “The buyers walk the line of our tobacco.” This provides the readers’ with a sense of where these characters are at. The family line of tobacco is along with other farmers and their families. In addition, the readers’ can infer the time period of the setting, which is probably around the time of 1900s. The time, where agriculture and producing various types of crops such as tobacco, corn or tomatoes was important. Agriculture was an important opportunity to many families as it provided them with financial aid. Furthermore, it is implied to the readers’ that this family took up a job at a tobacco farm in order to gain money and improve their economic hardships. Thus, through the use of the setting, the economic hardships of the family was conveyed and becomes more understandable for readers’ to understand the