{"id":474,"date":"2012-10-22T20:52:13","date_gmt":"2012-10-23T00:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.briancroxall.net\/lit-tech\/?p=474"},"modified":"2012-10-22T20:52:13","modified_gmt":"2012-10-23T00:52:13","slug":"money-motivates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.briancroxall.net\/lit-tech\/2012\/10\/22\/money-motivates\/","title":{"rendered":"Money Motivates!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Throughout a person\u2019s life, money has always been the determining factor in a certain situation. From one\u2019s career, to one\u2019s possessions, money has directed where one goes. Not only that, but money makes one think any decision seems rational and morally justifiable. Trethewey\u2019s novella, Bellocq\u2019s Ophelia, <\/em>details Ophelia being pushed to prostitution, because of her unfortunate need for money. Also, detailing how Ophelia tries to justify her choice in becoming a prostitute.<\/p>\n

Immediately, Trethewey provides Ophelia\u2019s profile: educated, young, and most importantly, black. Considering her time, 1910\u2019s, society would dismiss her age and intelligence just one the basis of her pigmentation. Being conceived in a racist society limit Ophelia\u2019s options and considering how her \u201cpurse thins\u201d (Trethewey, 7), pursuing a respected profession does not seem economically wise. Acknowledging her economical problems and the fact that \u201cno one needs a girl\u201d (Trethewey, 7), any job would be accepted with open arms; pushing her to become a prostitute. Although one would think that Ophelia would take time to think over her decision, she only takes a month to decide to become a prostitute, showing how quickly money can sway a person.<\/p>\n

Apart from making Ophelia work where \u201cone glass of champagne is twenty\u201d (Trethewey, 11), Storyville, the need of money seems to make her glamorize prostitution. Ophelia places an elegant fa\u00e7ade over the grotesque profession \u201cthe perfumed soaps and fine silk gowns we wear\u201d(Trethewey, 17), hindering any sense of regret. Ophelia then goes on to say that the money is being spent for a good cause \u201cI have bought my mother new teeth\u201d (Trethewey, 15), which is another way she tries to justify her decision. Although one would dismiss this as Ophelia\u2019s appreciation for her new life, Trethewey explains Ophelia\u2019s new mindset, \u201cEmpty your thoughts\u2014think, if you do, only of your swelling purse\u201d(Trethewey, 11). In other words, money demands Ophelia to diminish any sense of regret, since she will be paid at the end of all the dismay.<\/p>\n

Retrospectively, Ophelia\u2019s turn to prostitution is not only based on her limited options, but also on the fact of the universal need for money.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Throughout a person\u2019s life, money has always been the determining factor in a certain situation. From one\u2019s career, to one\u2019s possessions, money has directed where one goes. Not only that, but money makes one think any decision seems rational and morally justifiable. Trethewey\u2019s novella, Bellocq\u2019s Ophelia, details Ophelia being pushed to prostitution, because of her<\/p>\n