Burdens of Poverty

Burdens of Poverty In the short story “The Sky is Gray”, Ernest J. Gaines shows the struggles, inflicted by poverty, in an eight-year-old boys life. This poor, Negro boy, James, lives with his mother and five other relatives while his father is away. The fact that his father is gone to war, his mother is a very proud woman, and James’ not wanting to be a financial burden on his mother, all take a toll …

…starving. James would rather suffer than have his mother spend money on him because he knows they are poor. Poverty plays a big role in making James’ life tough. His father is gone to war, his mother is a proud woman, and James never wants to be a financial burden on the family. All the pains James endure play a role in making him a man. Poverty hinders James, but it does not break him.