Running Head: Crossing The Poverty Line

Crossing the Poverty Line

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

Two dollars in the United States will allow one to buy; one bottle of shampoo, one slice
of pizza or a single song off of iTunes. Although these items bring us fulfillment at the time, they
do not satisfy our need to live. It is hard to believe an estimated 2 billion people live on less than
2 dollars per day or less. (insert citation) The average American household makes about one
hundred thirty-eight dollars per day. Poverty is the state of not having enough money to afford
items such as; food, shelter, clothing and more. Although it seems in America have it pretty
decent, why is it we let our brothers, sisters, and neighbors live in means below their needs? An
average 175 billion dollars is needed to eradicate extreme poverty in the next 20 years. The
current GDP per year of America alone is 40 trillion dollars. This alone states, a single country
could eradicate extreme poverty. This would mean we have the ability to change the lives of over
2 billion people in the world. It is very hard to fathom we allow our brothers, sisters, neighbors
and friends to endure such hard and troublesome times when we have the key to ending it. To
eradicate extreme poverty completely, first we have to understand it.
Coming from a very strong middle-class upbringing, it is hard for me to identify with those that
are affected by poverty. I may sense as though I understand what poverty is as we look to those
who are affected by it, but in reality I have the slightest clue about it. That in itself is very
disappointing. By researching what poverty is and understanding the stories of those who did
experience it, I have been able to slightly understand what it is, and how we may be able to
eradicate it.
To understand poverty, one must walk the footsteps of those who have experienced it first
hand. Jonathan Larson & Piper Kerman allowed audiences of their stories to catch a glimpse of

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

what poverty truly is. Each author allowed us to understand further in depth as to how poverty
affects the lives of the individuals who live in it. Take for instance the various different rhetorical
concepts each author included in their stories.
The first rhetorical concept was the concept of logos. With this concept, each author
allowed us to see how poverty affected each character live with written word. We are able to see
first hand how poverty affects each character by what they are saying. The second rhetorical
concept was the concept of ethos. Through this concept, Larson & Kerman gave the audience of
taste of what living in poverty was truly by how the characters dealt with it. Take for instance the
struggles of the characters in the Musical Rent by Jonathan Larson. In this story, we are able to
see first hand the lives of struggling artists in the city of New York. Each with a dream to make it
bigger than those around them. Instead, we are shown the hard life of living with AIDS/HIV as
well as struggling with sexual orientation, and lastly how to pay the current month's rent. The
concept of pathos distinguished the emotions each character in brought out in the stories, Rent &
Orange Is The New Black, in the terms of poverty. This concept embarks on emotional appeal
and allows the author to connect the message of poverty by getting in touch with what the target
audience values. Lastly the rhetorical concept of the mythos. This concept allowed both of the
authors to use their experiences to relate to the target audience they were trying to reach. Piper
Kerman went to prison and tried to understand the lives of those around her during it. While
Jonathan Larson attended Adelphi University in New York city and graduated with a Bachelor of
Fine Arts degree. After this Larson moved to a fifth-floor loft in Greenwich village with other
struggling artists. (Insert Citation?) Both of these authors may have witnessed poverty first hand,
they were able to experience it through the lives of their stories of others. Which could factor
them to write the stories of Rent and Orange is The New Black.

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

Jonathan Larsons Rent first showing was on April 29, 1996. During this time, an
epidemic known as HIV/AIDS had reached the United States and the population. By the end of
the 1990s, it was known over 307,000 people in the U.S. had contracted AIDS, compared to the
8-10 million living with HIV.(insert citation) It was not longer being swept under the rug by the
government, instead awareness had begun to spread about the disease. A major step in spreading
awareness was the courage of well-known basketball player Magic Johnson stating he was living
with the HIV disease. No longer was it thought only those living close to the poverty line and of
the homosexual culture were the only ones affected by the diseases. More awareness was brought
forward about the epidemic through tv shows, music, books, and musicals.
Jonathan Larsons musical Rent follows the lives of 7 young starving artists in New York
City. Each with a different background and a different story intertwined with those closest to
them. This story follows Roger and his roommate as well as filmmaker Mark Cohen. Roger is
HIV positive and very numb to the life around him while Mark tries his best to get him out of his
slump as well as struggling to find love and job for himself. It seems as though we do have a
breakthrough with Roger when an exotic dancer and HIV positive Mimi arrives. Yet all hope was
lost when we find out Mimi had relations with a former roommate and now landlord of the
building, Ben. Ben moved out of the apartment when he married to Allison an upstate New
Yorker and used his new found wealth to buy the building. We also have the characters of Angel
and Tom Collins. Angel is a transgender/drag queen living with HIV and sparks the interests of
HIV-positive computer genius Tom Collins. Lastly the characters of Maureen and Joanne. They
are a lesbian couple with completely polar backgrounds. Maureen is bisexual and comes from an
outrageous performance artist type of life. As to where Joanne comes from a highly educated
upbringing being her parents are government officials. Although each of the characters lives are

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

very different, they are all fighting the same battle. Living in poverty and trying to follow their
dreams.
Each character living in the building has come to terms they do not have enough money to pay
last years rent. Each with an added struggle such as Roger, Mimi, Angel and Tom fighting the
HIV disease. They each question whether trying to overcome the disease is even worth it. Take
for instance when Roger states he is a washed up singer and there is no reason to go on with
doing what he loves because he is affected by the HIV disease. (ACT 1: One song Glory- Roger)
He fell in love with someone he believed could change his whole world for the best, when it was
completely opposite. He is stuck in a loft fighting for his life wondering when the disease will
finally take him over completely. Jonathan Larson was able to take a character who at one time
thought he was on top of the world and completely flip it upside down into a world of darkness
and hopelessness by using the rhetorical concept of pathos. Rogers emotions allowed us to
embark on a journey to see what life was like living with the HIV disease. Yet it is almost as if
Roger may have some hope with the character of Mimi comes to his apartment and tries to
understand what he is going through. (ACT 1: Light my Candle- Roger & Mimi) Their struggles
may be different yet they slightly understand what each is going, though. Larson was able to use
these characters to explain in the midst of poverty and disease everyone has their struggles and it
is better to go through it with someone and not just alone. Each character of Rent helped
contribute to the fact poverty was an immense issue in the lives of each the struggling artists.
We are able to see how poverty affected each of the characters throughout the performance and
the music itself. The characters allow themselves to live a Bohemian lifestyle. Each character
trying to get past the struggle of living in poverty as well as trying to live for art and freedom.
(ACT 1: La Vie Boheme/ I Should Tell You- all characters) During this performance, Jonathan

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

Larson was able to write about how all these characters wanted to follow the life of the
Bohemian ways yet they were dealing with greater conflicts (HIV/ paying rent/ sexual
orientation). Through the music, you could hear how angry each character was with the situation
each was facing. At the end of the day, each of them had their struggles and battles they fought
the common battle of poverty.
As Jonathan Larson wrote each character and their story, it is profound to see the
background he came from served added more depth and credibility to the musical of Rent.
Jonathan came from a very middle-class upbringing. He was a music lover his entire life and was
a big fan of Elton John, The Beatles, The Who and lastly Billy Joel. Inspired by these artists and
their genres, you are able to hear Jonathan Larson heavily incorporated the genre into the
musical. His middle-class upbringing allowed him to write the struggles of those in poverty,
although he may not have classified with them. He did not live in poverty he did have an outsider
point of view on the effects it had to those around him, much like Piper Kerman in her book
Orange is the New Black.
Piper Kerman as well came from a decent background. She was a college graduate, with a
promising career in the field of public relations. Her entire life turned upside down when her
adventures of her younger years catch up with her. Piper was given an 18-month sentence in a
women's prison. Piper's head is filled with various thoughts and emotions as she begins her
sentencing.
Piper is introduced to a new world, a world she could never believe existed inside the walls of a
prison. Her first taste of the new world was when she first arrived at the prison and was stripped
of all she belongs. (Chapter 3, pages 36-37) Out in the real world she was among the upper
ranks, college educated, strong family background, many friends, etc. During the act, Kerman

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

wrote about how was now in the same ranks as those around her. This new world she had to
become accustomed to at first felt as if she would be alone. Piper was welcomed by fellow white
inmates, who gave her bars of soap, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. (Chapter 3, pages
49-50) It was a sign even though they had little, they were willing to spare a few necessities to
those who might be under the same circumstances as they were. Each of the inmates came from a
very different background than Kerman. Though throughout the book Kerman was able to write
on how the inmates were similar to those on the outside world.
Piper Kerman was your average middle-class woman. Well educated, steady income, ready to
take the world. Much unlike a vast majority of the characters in the book. Most of the women in
the prison were poor, poorly educated and come from neighborhoods where the mainstream
economy was barely present and the narcotics trade provided the most opportunity for
employment. (Chapter 9, page 138) It was almost as if the prison life was better for a majority of
the inmates then was their actual home life. Most of the inmates were very poverty stricken. It
drove them to lead the life of drugs, stealing and crime. Yet they each wanted the same thing. To
be able to lead a somewhat normal life. The ability to have a decent meal every day, a bed to
sleep on, and a regime to feel as though they had a purpose. The world most of the inmates were
familiar with did not have that. They were poverty-stricken. Living life day by day, wondering
how they were going to survive. How they would provide for their families if they had any. Take
for instance the character of Nora Jansen. Nora was Piper's love interest in the earlier stages of
her life. Nora was a profound drug trafficker and an excellent one at. She lured Piper into this
world of wealth, adventure and freedom that Piper at the time was intrigued by. As we look
further into the history of Nora, we know that she came from a very poverty stricken
background. Which puts into question, does poverty correlate crime? It is a commonly held

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

belief that those are in poverty tend to lead more to a life of crime. It could be stated that the
reason that Nora got into drug trafficking was because of the fact she wanted to have a different
change of lifestyle, to have a new life that is not poverty stricken.
A study by Amir Sariaslan in Sweden followed the life of children born between 1989
and 1993. The research done focused on the familys income and the criminal activity they were
involved in between the ages of 16 and 21. "Using traditional epidemiological methods, we
found that low income in one's family of origin was indeed associated with higher risk of violent
offending," Says Sariaslan. As we can see from both Rent and Orange Is the New Black our past
does come out to haunt us.
It seemed as though the authors Larson and Kerman came from a polar background and
upbringing but, in fact, their pasts show the audience a different view. The credibility that each
had from their past allowed them to further connect with the audience. The authors wrote in both
of their messages to deeper understand as to what poverty is and how to we could eradicate it.
Take for instance in the musical Rent, when all hope was lost for the character of Roger, he found
a light in Mimi. We can also relate that to Piper when she first arrived in prison. This new found
world was a complete shock to her but when the people of "similar" background gave her
necessities it seemed as if a light was shone in the dim horizon of prison. Both of these authors
were able to portray a similar message. They were intended to inform those that did not
understand what it meant to live under the poverty line. They were able to use fallacies such as
scare tactics. The death of Angel was a fallacy that Larson was able to use to bring a point to
poverty. Being if Angel had the right financial stability he could have been able to live longer
than he did. As to where Kerman was able to use the scare tactic of being thrown into prison with
those of a different background that she came from.

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

Both authors wanted to be able to reach their target audience. Larson's being the audience of the
1990s, known as an era of freedom and expression. Through the musical of Rent Larson was able
to reach an audience who was blinded side by a different world that was going on around them.
He was able to reach the audience who did not understand what poverty truly was and how it
affected the lives of those that lived in it. He reached an audience that had their future planned
out for them, whether it being going to college, taking over a family business, or just trying to
make it on their own. Audiences that were confused by their sexual orientation, or even their
economic status. He was able to connect to various different groups through the various
characters of Rent. Kerman was able to share a varying and different story. She came from the
world where she had everything she needed, her future planned and a life well worth living for.
Through her story of Orange is The New Black she was able to open doors to see how life was
like when you reached the vary low totem pole, prison. She was able to write about how even
though she came from a different socioeconomic status, the people that were on the poverty line
did lead a life very much like hers. They had families, goals, dreams, yet they were just trying to
survive life. In fact, both authors were able to share a similar message. Being that you come from
different socioeconomic backgrounds, with some more privileged than others we are all striving
for the same common goal. To be something in this world. This is what was able to grab my
attention in both of the stories. There was always some kind of struggle, not being able to pay
rent, not understand what kind of world you are being thrown into, not being able to buy drugs
that will suppress the disease that could someday end up killing you. It is all for survival.

Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

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Running Head: CROSSING THE POVERTY LINE

Resources

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Sachs, Jeffery. (2006) The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities of Our Time. New York, NY:
Penguin
Jonathan Larson Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Retrieved October 30, 2015
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(2012) CDC Global HIV/AIDS Milestones:
On the Path to An AIDS- Free Generation. Retrieved from [Link]/professionals/historyhiv-aids/overview
[Link]