My brilliant canvas by

On Dumpster Diving (p.664)

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 13:17:07 UTC

The author describes his experience of being homeless and the art of dumpster diving. He speaks about different stages of dumpster diving and describes the emotional impact that living out of a dumpster has on a person.

The Shame Game (p.680)

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 13:25:07 UTC

The author examines the shame that is felt by those who are unemployed. She believes that the unemployed should not blame themselves.

Theme Statement

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 13:30:35 UTC

People are shamed by others because of circumstances that are out of their control.

The Shame Game quote (p.681)

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 13:32:40 UTC

You didn’t bring the layoff down on yourself; you didn’t determine that the maximum wage in your line of work would be in the neighborhood of $8 an hour. Snap out of it, I want to say, blame the economy or its corporate chieftains. Just don’t blame yourself!

The author states that people feel ashamed for things that they did not do.

On Dumpster Diving quote (p. 665)

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 13:40:21 UTC

I live from the refuse of others. I am a scavenger. I think it a sound and honorable niche, although if I could I would naturally prefer to live the comfortable consumer life, perhaps -and only perhaps-as a slightly less wasteful consumer, owing to what I have learned as a scavenger.

He is not ashamed of what he does because he knows that he has to do it. However, he feels the weight of other people's shame.

Just Walk On By quote (p. 241)

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 13:44:03 UTC

In that first year, my first away from my hometown, I was to become thoroughly familiar with the language of fear. At dark, shadowy intersections, I could cross in front of a car stopped at a traffic light and elicit the thunk, thunk, thunk of the driver – black, white, male, or female – hammering down the door locks. On less traveled streets after dark, I grew accustomed to but never comfortable with people crossing to the other side of the street rather than pass me. Then there were the standard unpleasantries with policemen, doormen, bouncers, cabdrivers, and others whose business it is to screen out troublesome individuals before there is any nastiness.

He is looked down on and discriminated against because of his race, which is certainly out of his control.

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 14:01:20 UTC

Questions

emilyhunter3638 — 2018-10-15 14:14:47 UTC

1. Have you ever felt ashamed about anything?
2. Have other people shamed you for things that you cannot control?
3. Have you ever shamed someone else? If so, do you feel bad for doing this?