Tom And Kara King Character Analysis

The Working Poor consists of numerous poor individuals that struggle to live in America. All of these individuals work hard but fail to find the success that America promises. One such family in America is the family of Tom and Kara King. Tom and Kara King’s family displays the hardships that a family can go through, but the ability to remain strong together by supporting each other. Tom and Kara King have a very unique family. Even when they have no jobs and very little money, they still remain very proud and righteous people. For example, Tom and Kara brought their children out to dinner one day after saving some money. During their dinner, they laughed and talked about their current hardships. A truck driver in the restaurant heard fragments of their conversation, was moved by their conversation, and decided to pay for their meal. As soon as Kara found out that someone paid for her family’s meal, she
Once Kara was diagnosed with an aggressive lymphoma, she had to go through chemotherapy. The chemotherapy caused her to lose her long and beautiful hair. Her new appearance frightened her children. Also they did not want her to come visit their school. Kara was embarrassed as well and kept up a picture of herself before the chemotherapy to ease her anger and embarrassment. Shipler adds even more emotional appeal by stating: “ In her eyes, the camera had caught a hint of laughter then. Now, against her gaunt face, they were fiercely bright, pleading, proud.” (177). This paragraph makes the readers feel alarmed, angry, and pity. The readers feel alarmed and slightly angry because the children that love Kara so greatly do not even want her to be seen at their school. The reader will also feel pity for Kara because after all she has gone through, her kids end up flinching at the sight of her. Shipler uses emotions very well in this paragraph to make it more