Griffin Peek
4-22-14
Mrs. Lawson
Depression Essay
During
the 1930’s the American people faced a tragic disruption in the economy – “The
Great Depression” - putting many people on the streets with no jobs or means to
earn a living. The movie “Cinderella Man” depicts the struggles of people
living in the Depression though the life of a boxer named Jim Braddock. While
he was earning a living boxing he lost his license at Madison Square Garden
because of a broken hand. All of the hard times that Jim faces are very
accurate to the things that people had to go through during the Depression.
When
Jim lost his job as a boxer he already was struggling to support his family. He
had sold most of the possessions in his house and moved into a small apartment.
Just like many Americans, this was the beginning of people selling things so
they could get by. Soon after Braddock moves, he loses his job due to his
inability not to work because of his broken hand. Many people during the Depression
were desperate - living on the street, in boxes and going from dock to dock or
warehouse to warehouse to see if they can find any type of work. Jim moves
forward even with his broken hand so that he can feed his kids and not send
them away. This was a traumatic choice for people living in large towns – one
that the Braddocks had to choose. If they could send the kids away then they could
work, earn a small living and try to start over again.
When
Jim goes to the government aid office to help get financial assistance it was
very shameful for him. Like most able bodied men he didn't want to ask the
government for help but he needed it and could not afford to let his family
suffer. Americans were very prideful and it was hard for people to ask for
money. We get a short glance, at the suffrage of our country when we experience
the story about the man whose wife’s teeth are falling out and he needs money
to take care of her and he can’t find a job. This was a realization for people
as they were literally on the streets starving. Aide stations were all around
and when Jim finally asks for help he is able to turn his power back on and
bring his kids home.
Life
during the Depression was very hard on people. When Jim gets the chance to fight
the world champion everyone believes that he is fighting for them because he too
is “down in the dumps” and is their symbol of hope – their Cinderella story. The
Depression was harsh on Americans and people had to do things they never
thought they would face in order to eat, live and protect their children even
risk their life like Jim did in the fight of his life. This movie represents a
man that kept on fighting in and around the ring just like he was fighting in
and around life to survive. Jim Braddock did not give up just like many
Americans did not give up during the Depression but fought for a stable economy
and a better life.
