Jews Without Money

How do the characters benefit from their Jewish identity? How does their faith support them in difficult moments?

The marriage between Katie and Herman Gold is often acrimonious but is also deeply loving. How do the couple’s disagreements affect the lives of their children?

Herman believes in the American Dream. To what extent are his failures built on individual flaws? To what extent is society to blame for his suffering?

Esther’s death has a profound effect on the family. How does his sister’s death force Mike to grow up?

Neighborly support often transcends ethnic boundaries, which are otherwise fiercely guarded. How does economic status unite people from different ethnicities?

Mike depends on his family and his gang of friends for support. In what ways is the support he receives from the gang and his family similar? In what ways is it different?

Animals suffer in poor neighborhoods. How does their suffering add to the bleak existence of the characters? How do animals provide comfort?

The tenement building is a physical embodiment of the shared suffering of the characters. How does the building reflect the difficulty of growing up in a poor neighborhood?