Project 2 (Revision 1)

Laura Reyes

Prof. Joellen Hiltbrand

Engl-205, Sec 8437

14 April 2019

Editing Challenges Used:

 Stick close to the text (s and focus on Literary Analysis)

Expand your submission

Start strong; end strong

 

 Project 2: Social Classes

                        In society there are class differences. We have low-class, middle-class and high class. In reading, The Californians, by Gertrude Atherton, I came to the conclusion that Magdalena and Helena were from different social classes. Magdalena and Helena were two friends who lived in San Francisco, CA. They were two young girls, who seemed to be in high school still and were home schooled. They lived in a time where it was not normal for females to go out alone, yet they were adventures and rebellious. They explored the streets of San Francisco, entertained by the fires and sympathetic to the victims of them. Moving along, Magdalena is middle-class, and Helena is high-class.  

                        Magdalena’s family did not own a library (Hicks et al. 312). This shows that she did not come from wealth. If she was wealthy, then she would not have to use someone else’s library and instead she could have one to use in her own home.

                        Magdalena’s monthly allowance was not much. Magdalena’s allowance was only five dollars a month (Hicks et al. 313). This shows that Magdalena’s family did not have a lot of money because they only gave her $5 dollars a month for allowance. Therefore, she was middle-class.

                        Magdalena could not afford to travel to another country. “’Magdalena did not speak of her conversation with her own parent’” (Hicks et al. 313).  A person who is high-class can afford to travel. Money would not be an issue how it is at this time for Magdalena. Not only was Magdalena unable to travel to another country because of money but she was embarrassed to share this with Helena.

                        Magdalena did not have money to help others. “’And I have nothing to give them,’” thought Magdalena, bitterly; but she was too proud to speak (Hicks et al. 314). A person of high-class can definitely help others. They have money to spare. Here Magdalena is on the spot because this is a time where these people have just lost their belongings and homes due to a fire and can use some financial support, but Magdalena cannot offer that.

                        Others did not ask money from Magdalena’s father. “’…It’s no use asking anything of old Yorba…’” (Hicks et al. 318). This is what Tom Shannon from the police station said to Magdalena and Helena when they were arrested. This shows that even the people at the police station knew that Magdalena’s father could not afford to give them money. He was not wealthy.

                        Helena made demands. "'I want a hack,'" she said peremptorily to the man in charge. "'And double quick, too.'"(Hicks et al. 313). Helena said this and she obviously comes from money because she is demanding a ride for both herself and Magdalena. Helena is obviously high-class; you can tell by the way she talks and makes demands.

                        Helena carried more money than the average person. When Helena did not think twice and instantly pulled out ten dollars to pay the taxi, Magdalena was shocked. Her own allowance was only five dollars a month (Hicks et al. 313). This shows that Helena and Magdalena come from a different class. Since, Magdalena is middle-class, then Helena is high-class because she has more allowance than Magdalena and did not think twice to spend it.

                        Helena can afford to travel to another country. “’He’s feeling awfully soft over my going away. Poor old Jack, he’ll feel so lonesome without me. But we’ll have a gay old time travelling together in Europe when I’m through’” (Hicks et al. 313).  This is when Helena is talking about the trip that she and Magdalena were planning. Helena, being high-class can afford to go on this trip to Europe. Her dad is able to pay for her trip.

                        Helena had a higher allowance than Magdalena, “’I got fifty dollars out of Jack to-night’” (Hicks et al. 313). Fifty dollars is a lot of money, compared to five dollars, and I am sure that fifty dollars was worth a lot more in 1898 than in the present time. This is yet more evidence that Helena was high-class.

                        Helena had money to offer to those in need. “’Poor devils!’” exclaimed Helena. “’I am so glad I have some silver with me’” (Hicks et al. 314). She could afford to help those less fortunate. This took place when she had a close encounter with the people who lost their homes because of a fire.  She obviously came from a high-class family, to give away her silver to the victims of the fire.
                        Helena was aware that she was high-class. She must have known that when she was taking the risk to go out on the street with Magdalena, they would be ok and if they were discovered she could get themselves out of trouble since she came from a high-class family. She must have been prepared and knew exactly what to say if they were to be caught.
                       Magdalena knew she came from a lower-class than Helena, she knew that she was middle-class. When Helena reminded her of the travel to Europe, this is when Magdalena was reminded that she was middle-class. Her father could not afford to send her there, and she was too ashamed to tell Helena the truth. 
                      In conclusion, in society there are class differences. There is low class, middle class and high-class. Helena is high-class and Magdalena is middle-class. I enjoyed reading this story. It was entertaining and I was able to be in a different time, while reading it. Furthermore, the world is not fair and a lot of times people in the high-class are able to bribe themselves out of trouble. So, it is important for us to distinguish the different social-classes in society so that one can act accordingly, to prevent trouble if possible. One may never know when this knowledge will be handy. An example is when Helena from The Californians, was aware of her social class and took the risk of going out on the street with Magdalena. Furthermore, if someone from low-class was caught in the same situation, he or she most likely would have been arrested. That is why it is important to be aware of different social-classes.  

           

Work Cited

Hicks, Jack, et al. The Californians. The Literature of California. University of California            Press, 2000. pp. 311-320.