Henry also appears to be using the setting to highlight Della’s mood. How frustrated Della may be is also noticeable by the fact that she wants to (and does) ‘flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.’ By counting the money on several occasions it is as if Della is hoping that she has more than she actually has. It also suggests that Della is frustrated, something that becomes clearer to the reader later on in the story. It may also be a case that by having Della count the money three times Henry is further emphasizing the levels of poverty that exist for Della and Jim. Something that is a little clearer to the reader when we discover that it has taken Della several months to save the money. The fact that the majority of the $1.87 is made up of pennies also suggests that things may not change financially for Della or Jim. By telling the reader exactly how much money Della has ($1.87) Henry may be placing an emphasis on the levels of poverty that exist in Della and Jim’s life. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Henry may be exploring the theme of poverty or hardship. Henry we have the theme of poverty, frustration, connection, struggle, love, sacrifice, anxiety and commitment.
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