Turn of the century Vermont literature :: essays research papers

The later half of the nineteenth century and early half of the twentieth century marked a period of keen change in the United States. The demography was drastically affected by the influx of immigrants who left their homelands in search of a clean life. People pip all nationalities, languages, and colors came together as a newfound community to live work amongst one another, regardless of differences. Men sacrificed their homeland at the expenditure of providing for their families, their ultimate mission. With this new life brought hopes of freedom, opportunity, and work. In modern society, money and material wealth are al way of lifes at the center of life. The American dream is no longer characterized by a Leave it to Beaver lifestyle, but rather much larger in scale. The world we live in today is a capitalistic society that targets itself at making enormous profits off the funds of consumers. Americans want to be rich so that they can gain to a greater extent for themselves t o fulfill their greed, which never can be fully satisfied. The majority of people in todays society can be characterized as the Takers of the world. This spot that has grown to be the common way of life has blossomed over time into the mess that we observe today. Greed did not always rule society the way it does today. Literature and memoirs from a by-gone era prove this to be especially true. In reviewing such works, much emphasis is placed upon community and family. The man was conventionally the cutting edge of the menage and would labor intensely to earn the needed resources to supply for his family. None the less, families tended to be larger in those days with the mother at the forefront of household and child duties. Given this, these early people can be easily characterized as Givers. Marie Tomasis Like Lesser Gods illustrates this way of life through the men that came to Granitetown Vermont from lands far away in search of work at the granite quarries. The infinite amou nt of work was immeasurable which gave security to the people who came to work in this new land of Vermont. In turn, this brought self-fulfillment to the people who worked there. Mr. Tiff recalled a letter he had received from Pietro while in Italy that characterizes his feelingsIt is beautiful, this Vermont granite we work, and its lifetime is that of the pyramidsYou ask me if here I am content?