Ali Buckley

10/1/17
English 101
Mr. Burgess

Stay Classy
Upper class, middle class, lower class, everything we do revolves around social class. In
reality as well as in each essay social class plays a part in affecting not only your morals and way
of living, but how you view life. In analyzing these three essay each problem begins with social
class that pushes every narrator to better the world and themselves, but they all differ in the
unique experiences each author endured to get there. Meaning, writing strategy, and language are
the core of all the essays that impact the similarities and differences.
The meaning held within each story is similar in all the stories but is most alike in The
Dreamer as well as Superman and Me but differ with Homeless. Each essay focuses on having
pride in their life. In Homeless, Quindlen goes into depth on the importance of having a home
not just a house. She explains that was the crux of it; not size or location, but pride of
ownership (216). Similarly, in Superman and Me, Alexie states, They wanted me to stay quiet
when the non-indian teacher asked for answers and then later says I refused to fail. I was
smart (584). In comparison to The Dreamer, your grandmother beat me almost every day, my
mother explained, but I got my education (Diaz 130). Homeless takes the concept of pride as
having a home not only to give you a sense of security but a sense of who you are. Superman
and me reveals that pride from a little Indian boy who went against his expectation of being
nothing and becomes a writer. In comparison, The Dreamer is a little girl whose pride pushed her
to refuse to be what is considered average no matter the consequences. Although all the stories
carry the motivation of having a sense of pride in your life, The Dreamer and Superman and Me

both tell stories of young people born into a lower class and consequently a low expectation
from society. Ultimately, these people refuse to accept the guidelines society gave them and
instead are determined to chase after their dreams.
The writing strategy in each story have some similarities but ultimately hold their
own unique perspective. Although all essays focus on lower class, each is told from a different
view. In The Dreamer Diaz tells the flashback of his mother and her heartbreaking hardships she
endured due to her social class all to get an education. This is extremely effective because Diaz
was so influenced by an event that he didnt even experience himself. Diaz even states, but I do
believe that who I am as an artist, everything that Ive ever written, was possible because a
seven-year-old girl up in the hills of Azua knelt before a puddle, found courage in herself and
drank (130). In Superman and Me, Alexie also uses a flashback, but it is of his own childhood.
He is also faced with hardships and struggles because of his social class. After his emotional and
traumatic childhood, Alexie now teaches creative writing classes to students at schools on the
reservation. He says I throw my weight against their locked doors. The door holds. I am smart. I
am arrogant. I am lucky. I am trying to save our lives (585). Again, another story based on the
struggle of social class and expectation, but in contrast, Alexie uses his own personal experiences
in his childhood. Homeless also holds a different viewpoint. Quindlen uses the perspective of a
stranger, Ann, a homeless woman to tell her story. After Ann pulls out the photograph of the
house she carries around with her Quindlen says, I knew what she was trying to tell me, for it
was something I often felt. She was not adrift, alone, anonymous.you are where you live. She
was somebody (215). Quindlen uses a random person at a bus terminal to give her the
inspiration to make a change. Overall, The Dreamer uses the flashback of his mothers
perspective to become better. Superman and Me also uses flashbacks of his own personal

experiences to change himself and the younger generation. Homeless uses the view on a
random stranger at a bus terminal as inspiration to change the world.
Language in all of the essays differ, but each still shed a light on social class being
the main purpose of every one. Superman and Me often uses many short choppy sentences
throughout the story. One of many example being, I refused to fail. I was smart. I was arrogant.
I was lucky (584). Quindlen uses the technique of imagery, as well as the actual meaning of
being homeless to shed light on the importance of having a home, They are not the homeless.
They are people who have no homes. No drawer that holds the spoon. No window to look out
upon the world. My God. That is everything (216). If you look closely, in The Dreamer the first
sentence of the essay is, I think of my mother of course(128), and the last few sentences
correlate stating, I think of that thirst, of that courage. I think of her (130). This is extremely
significant in getting across that Diazs whole outlook on life starts and ends with his mother.
Each author uses different writing techniques all to portray the common theme of class to evoke
emotions out of the reader.
All in all, meaning language and writing style all compare in these stories as well as
differ with each specific situation. Its extremely fascinating analyzing all three stories and the
differences yet they all share one main idea of how influential social class can be on your life
whether it is your own or someone elses. Superman and Me proved to be the most powerful of
the three. It was truly inspiring that Alexie chose not to let his social class define him at such a
young age he proved stereotypes wrong. Ultimately, everything we do in life is begins with
social class, a certain imaginary set of rules and expectations you have to fulfill just because of
the class you were born into. Of course, certain classes have an advantage to succeed, but each
one of these stories proved you can either let your social class or others around you drag you

down or push you to be better. At the end of the day it is all up to you whether you let it help you
or hurt you.

Works Cited MLA format

Alexie, Sherman. Superman and Me. Milkweed Editions, 1997

Diaz, Junot. The Dreamer. More, 2011
Quindlen, Anna. Homeless. Living Out Loud, 1987