Great Depression: Finding an Exit Strategy - Essay Sample

Introduction

During the Great Depression, which was witnessed in America between 1929 to 1939, everyone who was affected needed an exit strategy. This exit strategy would be anything that would keep them from continually thinking and sulking over the adverse effects that had been brought upon them by the Great Depression. The majority of people had lost their jobs, and as a result, their sources of livelihood. The future looked bleak, and the hardships faced at the time were heartbreaking. It is during the Great Depression that comic books got their prominence.

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Entertainment

The Great Depression brought forth a cultural need for entertainment that was easily affordable, and one that would help people forget, albeit for a moment, the difficulties that they were experiencing (Riddle, 2008). Unlike all other forms of entertainment during that period, comic books were perfect and fit in rather seamlessly. Everyone was in search of some form of escapism that had the following characteristics: 1) cheap owing to the difficult financial situation; 2) entertaining; 3) gave motivation, inspiration, or hope for the future. Comic books were cheap as they cost a dime, they were entertaining, and they offered or presented messages of courage or hope.

The authors of comic books during the great depression made sure to write on comforting things and gave everyone a feeling of perfection. Ideally, it was everyone needed. The comfort would come in handy as people were going through difficult times, with many unable to fend for their families. It would be easy for such people to look down on themselves and think of themselves as been unworthy. As such, the comic books needed to bring back the belief that though the situation may be dire, everyone is still worthy and capable of determining their fate.

Heroes

Everyone needed a hero they could look up to. Comic books brought them exactly what they were looking for. The first major comic book that captured and fit the narrative was that of Superman. After that, Batman and several others followed. In the comic books, the backgrounds were mostly of worlds that were marred with crime and hopelessness. During the Great Depression, crime and hopelessness are the significant concerns that Americans were dealing with (Riddle, 2008). From the comic book Batman, the authors brought forth a hero who had no superpowers besides his passion, drive, and determination to rid the world of crimes and injustices.

The perspective put forth was that the ordinary American had the power within him to do all it took to get over the hopelessness and despair that was consuming them. Just as Batman made good use of the skills he had to overcome any hurdles that came his way, they too could do the same. People were allowed to dream about their problems being solved via the perfect and faultless superhumans.

In the first series of the Superman comic book, Superman spoke of he is the champion of those that were oppressed. In this regard, everyone believed in any little hope they could cling onto. This motto lightened people up, as they felt inspired by their superheroes.

How Great Depression Have Shaped the Outlook of Mr. And Mrs. Tarver

Before the depression, Mr. Tarver had spent so much time away from home, either serving in the army or working at different jobs. Even after he married Mrs. Tarver, he was barely home, owing to the demanding nature of his work. He made a decent earning that was enough to take care of his family comfortably and to cater for savings as well. While he may have felt the impact of the Great Depression, he was amongst the few who were lucky to land a few jobs after losing the ones they had.

When the Great Depression struck, he was forced to work on cases that involved liquidation on several businesses. As such, he saw and felt the pain in the eyes of those who were being hard-hit by the Great Depression. Ultimately, when he was laid off, he finally got the chance to spend more time at home. It is here that he indeed saw and valued the skills that his wife bore. In what would have been leisure to anyone else, his wife’s gardening skills practically helped them survive during this challenging period. The vegetables that she tended to came in handy in the acquisition of other items that they needed and did not have. As such, she traded the vegetables for them. At some point, she even used them to pay off her help.

The worst thing about the Great Depression was that it took away the job he had, as well as the savings he had made. Life got tough. He owes their survival during that period to the resourcefulness of his wife. The one thing it taught him though was to e conservative with regards to spending. After he landed a better paying job, which forced them to leave Georgia, he was more careful regarding spending. Once they cleared the loans they had, they saved up some more and only making prioritized purchases or spending. Their minds are now informed by the need to be prepared should a similar situation arise in the future. Their thoughts on consumption are now rather conservative.

Mr. Tarver admits to being wowed by the artistic prominence of his wife when it came to sewing. She made beautiful crotchets with so much ease. For her, this was her leisure activity. During this challenging period, leisure activities were essential in helping everyone get by rather quickly. They help make people’s minds off the hardships that they were facing. Whenever she would sit down to sew, a smile would always come upon her face. Mr. Tarver did not have much of leisure activity (Riddle, 2008). However, during this time, he found one. After losing his job, he began spending more time in their garden, assisting his wife in the process. The garden brought him some sense of calm and tranquility.

Conclusion

Further, spending time with friends helped ease the situation. They would continuously meet up with other families and spend time together. During such gatherings, they would play board games and share meals and laughter. Some moments would take away the sadness that had been brought upon everyone by the Great Depression. He thus appreciates the value of friendships, and their ability to get people through the most difficult of moments.

References

Allan Riddle, The Great Depression and Comic Books. (2008). Retrieved July 24, 2020, from https://prezi.com/fccqchnmkox-/the-great-depression-and-comic-books/