Poverty in The World Made Straight

By Anonymous -
            Poverty and the efforts made to escape it are an ever-present theme in The World Made Straight. Many of the characters live in poverty and attempt to overcome it in various different ways, both helpful and self-destruction. Some, like Leonard, Dena, and the Toomeys turn to drug dealing. Not only does this take a toll on themselves mentally and physically, but it further increases the amount of pain and corruption present in the Appalachian community they all live in. All of these characters are punished for drug dealing by the end of the novel, with Leonard and the Toomeys dying - the elder Toomey still clutching his wad of drug money in his fist while taking his last breaths and Dena being completely broken inside with an uncertain future. Travis is a prime example of the ways used to get out of poverty. His attempts at drug dealing at the beginning of the novel leave him grievously injured, which deters him from doing it any farther and sets him on the path to getting an education. Like with Lori, Travis uses education rather than crime to elevate himself. Taking this path allows Lori and Travis to escape the cycle of pain and despair that drugs have brought upon their neighbors as symbolized by them literally leaving their town in search for a better life, with Lori going to college and Travis’ future left vague as he is still dealing with the repercussions of his own drug dealing and his interactions with other drug dealers.

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