The Street

In Ann Petry’s, The Street, Lutie Johnson struggles to live the American Dream with her son Bub. Lutie see the American Dream as owning her own home, having a good job and keeping her son Bub out of trouble. It is not easy for Lutie to achieve this dream during the 1940’s because she is single African American mother. When moving to 116th Street Lutie noticed how the people who live on this street are trapped and they do not have a choice weather to leave or not because they are being controlled by Junto. Through the novel the street traps Lutie sexually, financially and because of her race. The Street is both a fantasy and a danger to Lutie and Bub. Lutie was a beautiful African American Woman who was trying to live her life like everyone else. She had a husband, Jim, and an eight year old son, Bub, who lived together while Lutie was out working in Connecticut, to make money for her family. After finding out her husband was cheating on her while she was out working supporting her family she decide to take her son and move out. She had a lot of emotions about where to raise her son and what kind of atmosphere will be best for him to learn and grow in. Lutie does not want to move in with her father and his girlfriend, Lil, because she is scared that Bud will become Lil’s personal slave. As Lutie searches for a place, for her and her son to live, she takes mental notes about the apartment and the people who live there. Lutie first notice the older lady who hangs out of her window and watches everything that goes on on the street. Next she notices the creepy super who shows her the apartment. Can Lutie live on this street and still live a normal life with her son? As Lutie walked slowly down 116th Street she notices a lot about how her and son life could be better or worse when living on this particular street. “She wasn’t afraid of its influence, for she would fight against it” (Perty Page 56). When Lutie first moved to her new apartment she was not scared