Kicked to The Curb

Jacqueline Procter
Journal #9
February 22, 2008
Stephen Crane

Quote:
“But where kin I go?…It was a direct attempt to give him some responsibility in a matter that did not concern him. In his indignation he volunteered information “Oh, go teh hell.” Cried he. He slammed the door furiously and returned with an air of relief to his respectability."

Summary:
Pete demonstrates once and for all that he is a schmuck by kicking Maggie to the curb. He took advantage of her naivety and feels no responsibility for her situation. Her reputation is tarnished, her family rejects her, resulting in her homelessness, and Pete discards her like a piece of trash.

Response:
Maggie didn’t have a sense of self worth due to her abusive upbringing, but Pete, by showing her attention, made her feel special which gave her worth. He spoiled her for a short time but in his rejection of her, took what little self esteem she had.

It’s the age-old double standard regarding sex. The woman has more to loose in this situation. A man is free to indulge in his sexuality, while if a woman does she’s a whore. Pete helped turn her into a whore, as he was fully aware of society’s rules and morals of the day. If a woman didn’t behave appropriately at all times she would be labeled unfavorably, especially if she lived with a man. The Victorian age was very repressed. A gentleman of class could go slumming and as long as he wasn’t caught, his conscience remained clear. Pete, not a gentleman, was embarrassed by her. He helped ruin her reputation but didn’t want his boss to see her with him. His job gave him the appearance of respectability, as he was able to groom himself – fluff and buff, and wear nice clothes to camouflage his uncouth exterior, but he was only slightly more refined than Maggie. She was easy prey for Pete, who didn’t have honorable intentions from the beginning.