Character Analysis of Francie in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, a Novel by Betty Smith

Throughout the semester we read some really great books, the one that I understood and enjoyed to read the most was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I liked this book the best because it was an easy read but also a good read. The author did a great job of using details from her life to embody Francie. Through Francie we got to take a look at Betty Smith's life during this hard time period. Even though this book is not a full biography it is based off parts of her life and real events and struggles in this time period.

In reading Betty Smith Biography I learned a lot about her early childhood that influenced the book. Betty Smith was the perfect example of life in Brooklyn during the 1890's (Biography). She was a typical young girl growing up in poverty while trying to live the american dream. She grew up with her parents, brother and sister. They moved around a lot in the same area and did everything they could to put food on the table. Betty went to grade school school like a normal little girl and helped her mom with tasks around the house. She also loved to go to the library and read any book she could get her hands on.

She would sit in her apartment where she looked out the window and watched the tree in the yard grow. But sadly at the age 14 she had to leave school to start working to help the family out (Biography). After working for five years she was able to attend high school. In high school she got to edit the school newspaper that lead her to her writing career. She wrote a couple books before writing A Tree Grows in Brooklyn in 1943 (Biography). This book is closely related to her early childhood life through the main character Francie.

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In the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Francie is the main character. Through the novel we see Francie grow up. She lived with her mother, father, and brother. The family was very poor and did everything they could to make ends meet. In the beginning of the book Francie goes to the same school as her brother, but she did want to go to that school, Later on in the story her dad convinces her to lie about her address so she can go to the "nice" school where the wealthy people go.

Francie, just like most other girls of this time helped out around the house with simple chores. But later her mother becomes pregnant and she has to stop school to go to work. Like every kid she dreams of big things for her life a lot. She is always happy and joyful no matter what the situation may be. In school she loves to write stories, even though they may not be true she enjoys writing them. Throughout the book she continues to develop through the coming of age theme. By the end of the book it is very clear that she has become a strong woman ready to continue her life. She is also very thankful for the life she was given growing up.

Through the background information of both the author Betty and the main character Francie, we can see how this book was based off Betty's life. Francie has a very similar background as Betty. Betty used this book to tell about her childhood though mostly factual events. Everything in the book is based on something in Betty's life or things she saw growing up. She wrote this book to tell what it was like to grow up in poverty during that time period.

Through both Betty Smith's childhood and Francie Nolan's we are able to get an idea about how life was in Brooklyn. From living in poverty and struggling to put food on the table day to day. Along with becoming a woman and the life responsibilities a woman must take on. Both these individuals painted a great picture of lower class Brooklyn in the 1890's.

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