Poverty

Poverty is a problem. A large problem in most countries. Millions of children around the world sit on street corners each day begging for change, food, and love. Begging for a chance at life. There are two major classifications of poverty, personal and social. Personal poverty, such as the lack of proper food, filthy living conditions, and broken families is at the core of below-standard living. Social poverty is more complex and not as easily recognized, yet it definitely exists. Social poverty is the abuse of power, the corruption of government, and instability of institutions, and prejudice.

Poverty is a problem, yet a problem of even greater importance is pinpointing where poverty commences. Are the traits listed above causes or effects? There are answers to be found in Shiva Naipaul's A Hot Country and North of South. In both works, which are very different in plot, but similar in theme, novelist Naipaul depicts the fateful and never-ending cycle of poverty and the disastrous effects it has upon society.

Poverty is a trap seldom escaped. When the main goal is purely survival, often privileges such as education and opportunity are forgotten. The mere search for necessities such as water, food, and shelter can become the soul purpose in life, leaving no time for progress or betterment. In A Hot Country, Naipaul chooses a story of a struggling salesman to prove this point. Aubrey St.-Pierre, is dedicated to "the betterment of society" through the educational books that he sells at the Aurora, his bookstore. He claims to only sell works which "provoke thought and kindness", but in reality there is no one to buy his books. No one has time for betterment. Dina, Aubrey's assistant, the first to understand this: There were long periods when she did not have to deal with the rare browsers, nor drunks, nor beggars...when all she did was sit on her stool and stare at the posters and traffic.

(Naipaul, Hot,36) Similarly, Naipaul depicts a comparable situation in North of South, only under different conditions. A German tourist notes the impossibility of change for the impoverished Africans: They have so much to learn. Such a long way to go. Not even a hundred years might be enough for them. They need lots and lots of time. I am not sure they will ever get it.

There are too many things buried under the ground for them to be left alone. That is why I am afraid for them. (Naipaul, North 303) These portrayals of poverty acting as a locked door upon the path to progress are in fact a window to the reader. Naipaul proves through his writings and his experiences that once a certain level of poverty is reached change is impossible. That poverty is the enemy of progress.

Politically, progress is defined as the forward movement towards a euphoric destination. But reaching this destination is unachievable when there is no pure government or authority to lead the way. Naipaul relates the reader two similar stories, one in each novel, of ...