Now and on Earth
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Summary of Now and On Earth
Written by Jim Thompson
Survey of American History
November 13, 2003
Jim Thompsons Now and On Earth tells the story of a familys struggles in San Diego, California. The story was based between 1930 and 1942, which was World War Two as well as the great depression. James Dillon is the main character, he struggles with money as well as his family. He lives with his mother, as well as his wild family who never seems to calm down. James has many struggles, he doesnt make enough money to properly fund his family. They are always strapped for cash, and James has an addiction to alcohol. The great depression left many families without jobs, money, and homes. This book is about James Dillons struggles during the 1930s. Money was, for many people, the key to happiness as well as the cause of sorrow. For many Americans life revolved around money. Money separated people, the size of their wallet determined the level of happiness, as well as their social class, during that time the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. Money was scarce, but James had a job, a low paying job that didnt give him much, but enough to get him and his family by.
Life during the depression was hard, and money was the key to happiness. James and his family needed money but were always strapped for cash. A good example as to how money was such an important thing is mentioned in the book, a worker went into a dinner and asked for a beer and a cheese sandwich, he handed the waitress a dollar and she gave him but a dime in return, he asked if there is some mistake and she said “Oh no. Sandwich, fifty. Beer, forty. No mistake.” “Funny, Whats those?” in a rather sarcastic tone. “Why their my breasts, you fool! Whatd you think they were?” He responded “Didnt know. Everything else is so high in here I thought they might be the cheeks of your ass.”. This attitude was a common one, people were commonly in a bad mood. This is because money was short and it causes problems. People dont want to pay 90 cents for a beer and a sandwich and when they only have a dollar. Poverty and sadness was a popular theme, throughout this book it is shown again and again.
Money was scarce then, and it was a way of classifying people. Roberta, which is James wife, knows that James works hard and does his best to support the family. Roberta and James talk about money a lot throughout the novel. In one part of the book, Roberta and James talk about money hardships as well as how is classifies people. “Got and money” said Roberta. “All of seven cents.” “Ive got a dollar but lets not spend it unless we have to. We need so many things Jimmie.” Here is a classic example of money hardships. James says that he only has seven cents, and Roberta only has a dollar. Keep in mind that these two people are the mother and father of the family, and they only have a dollar and seven cents put together. Later on in that conversation, Roberta classifies Moon, who is Jimmies boss, as a rich person. She thinks that just because Moon is in charge of what Jimmie does at work that he has a lot of money to spend. “Look, whose idea was this, anyway? How do you expect to go down here and spend an evening without money?” said James. “Moons got plenty of money. You just let him pay for things.” said Roberta. “I guess Ill have to.”. This is a prime example of when money puts people in their classification. Money was a way to classify people back then. Here Roberta is basically classifying Moon as a rich person. This happened a lot during that time. People worked hard and didnt get paid much at all, this alienated people. This prevented socialization outside of the family, people would work hours upon hours and be practically dead when they got home.
Money was the key to happiness and the cause of all lifes problems. The great depression put a lot of people out of work. It caused a tremendous decline in the status of life. Alcohol became a major part of life. It was a way to escape the everyday battle for money. When moon took the family out, he made a payment to the cashier before the entered. James says that he was worried about where Frankie and Moon were, but this night was his, no cost out of his pocket, just a free night, nothing to worry about. Of course this night had plenty of drinking involved, scotch and sodas, as well as sunrise specials too, this was of course a part of Jamess drinking problem.
Times back then were often hard, and many people felt it, in fact more people felt the sting of poverty than the golden taste of wealth. This is described in the book, with examples from the Dillon family as well as other families. This proves that the poverty extends well beyond the Dillon family. “Sunday night we got a long-distance call from Marge-a collect one because Walter was slowly being hounded out of his job by bill collectors and hed told her she simply couldnt run up anymore bills.” This proves that jobs as well as money were a sacred thing back in those days. With millions of people out of work and jobs that dont pay anything money was the most important commodity back then. This theme was apparent throughout the book. “When I think of how I used to take you kids to a five-cent movie and sit in it all day to save fuel. And of how we skimped on food. Do you remember the games we used to play? Id break up the bread on your plates at breakfast, and wed be big sharks ourselves. And then at noon the bread and gravy would be cars and our months would turn into tunnels. I laughed. “Yeah. And where were living when you chased down the alley that