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Poverty Is a State of Mind

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Poverty is a state of mind

“If you think you’re poor, you’re poor. If you think you’re rich, you’re rich. No-one is ever going to come along to cure your poverty. The only solution is to do it yourself.” These words are incisive. But is this the naked truth? “Poverty is a state of mind” (2012), written by Bernard Hare, deals with the idea of poverty as a mind-set. In this essay I will analyse and comment on Bernard Hare’s essay, based on a study of the writer’s use of contrasts and the use of his own experiences during the essay – lastly with an investigation of the writer’s intention. (115)

Bernard Hare’s essay was originally broadcasted on BBC Radio 3 as a radio essay in 2012, later on, it was reprinted on BBC’s website. The story basically takes place in Leeds, in the North of Britain. We are following Hage through his upbringing in a poor environment. His father worked as a coal miner, and his mother was a shop worker in a department store. The events of the story are listed in chronological order - from back in the days where Hare was a child, spending his days among the cobbled terraces of east Leeds, to 1968 when his family got their first black and white television, and lastly he is taking us to the present, through his experiences as an alcoholic, drug addicted, thirty year old man.

The story is told by a first person narrator, Bernard Hare himself. The essay encompasses a lot of personal histories and trough the whole story, we are dragged into Hare’s personal universe. That leads to a very conspicuous form of appeal, the use of ethos. Through personal stories, Hare is telling a stirring story about poverty and its cause. With his use of ethos, we are drawn into the story, and the environment in general. The following quote is an example if Bernard Hage’s use of ethos: “Nan had been trough the war and knew a lot, but nobody took her seriously because she was old. I loved going to her house, because she always gave me uncut brown bread with butter, which I adored, while we only ever got sliced white bread and margarine at home, which I wasn’t so keen on.” This contributes to a great sympathetic insight, and we can imagine how he loved to visit his grandma, and his obviously strong relationship with her. The use of his own experiences show us that he has a great insight into the atmosphere he is trying to describe to us, as readers. In some way, it makes the story very reliable – even though it is only told from his point of view. The effect of the personal stories is very touching compared to if it was a professional person telling the story. By this, Hare is able to touch a lot of people – also by the use of his easily read language. The language is marked by contractions, which basically belong to the colloquial language. But, as a matter of fact, it does no harm to the story. The use of colloquial language might be because of the fact that it is a spoken essay, but it also contributes with something sincere and vivid to the story. Another characteristic thing about the language is his use of slang. That is noticeable in the following quote: “My Nan lived a coal’s throw away on the other side of the street.” Nan is a slang for grandmother, but the use of this slang shows which background he grew up in.

During the story, Hage is focusing on special contrasts in the British society. We are presented to the first contrast on page two: “She often criticised my parents, however, because they drank and smoked. Nan was teetotal and didn’t approve of that kind of thing.” A contrast between the grandmother and Hage’s parents are expelled. His grandmother was very concerned about his education and did not wanted him to waste time. Another contrast deals with the social justice: “Like father like son, good education or no. Education is one pathway out of poverty, but the road is only worth taking when combined with social justice.” By this, Hare refers to the social injustice in the society – the contrast between black and white. The contrast between rich and poor is also expelled in the story: “My mother died at the same time and I was concerned about my dad, who was being starved to death by the same country he had fought for in Korea.” This describes the contrast between the people who are filled with opportunities and the ones who got none. It is a clear contrast between the amount of possibilities and equality in the society. As mentioned before, there is a clear contrast between being black or white. But the contrast is expelled in a very decent way; it is not a hate-hate relationship – but more a description of his personal experiences, which the readers freely can interpret. “I went into pubs in London shaking a bucket, collecting for the cause. In some pubs, I filled the bucket. In others, I was spat at and pelted with food.” This quote is a clear example of social injustice, and the treatment of black people. Throughout the essay, there is not only a contrast between rich and poor, but also a contrast in between poor and poor. That is expelled in the following quote: “Poverty isn’t only about a lack of money and resources. The worst poverty is found when there is a lack of education, understanding, hope – liberty, fraternity, equality, as the French say.” This is where his point of view really appears, the point of view that poverty is a state of mind. Therefore, there is a contrast by those who are poor by soul and those who decides not to be poor by soul. But is this really true? Is it possible to let go of your poverty just like that?

Bernard Hare pulled oneself together when he came across a glaring example of child poverty. But why exactly has he written this text? On one hand, this can be an eye-opener for the British society. But on the other hand, he can be a role model for other kids or adults in his situation. The text is written to inform, but also to discuss whether poverty is a state of mind – or not. He opens a door to another world, and makes us take part of the circumstances.

(934)

This essay is, in some way, an evidence that it is possible to let go of the poverty by soul. Bernard Hare made it, and on a journey marked by injustice, poverty and damaging surroundings, he tough us that it is possible to break out of the poverty. From his point of view, poverty is a state of mind. Are you convinced? (62/1248)

--------------------------------------------
[ 1 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 5, l. 321-25
[ 2 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 1, l. 42-49
[ 3 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 1, l. 20-21
[ 4 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 2, l. 89-92
[ 5 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 3, l. 143-46
[ 6 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 3, l. 193-97
[ 7 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 3, l. 185-88
[ 8 ]. Hare, Bernard: Poverty is a state of mind, p. 4-5, l. 288-292

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