Treatment of the Poor Observed

Treatment of the Poor observed in "The Town Poor"

"The Town Poor" observes how we should treat others when they are in need. In addition, Jewett looks at the motivation behind some individual's actions. "The Town Poor" forces us to look at ourselves and those in need from a perspective that everyone can always use a little improvement. The poor should never be reduced to anything that seems less significant than a human being.

The treatment of the poor is emphasized in this story as Wright observes what has happened to the Bray sisters. Rebecca is aware of what might have happened to the Bray sisters when she heard about their situation. She says, "I just sat down an' cried good when I found Abel Janes's folks had got hold of "em. They always had the name of bein' slack an' poor-spirited, an' they did it just for what they got out o' the town" (Jewett). Her fears are realized when she pays them a visit. We read that while visiting Mrs. Janes, her "heart was wrung with pain, as she thought of the unwelcome inmates of such a place" (Jewett). Here Rebecca is saddened by the fact that a family that did not necessarily want to help the sisters ended up with them because they bid the lowest. It was also shameful for Mrs. Trimble to think that this was the best that Hampden could do for its poor. The women rising up against this type of activity illustrates how people can make a difference.

"The Town Poor" is a social commentary on how we should interact with one another by demonstrating what we should not do. We should not treat the poor as slaves and we should never care for them in any way when we are only interested in what it means to us. Giving should come from the heart and we should never have to prod people to care for their neighbors by offering a price.