Everything That Rises Must Converge | Themes

Social Class
Julian’s mother reminds him that they come from a ‘‘good’’ family—one that was once respected for its wealth and social standing. Her family name is central to her identity, reinforcing her belief in her value as a human being and her superiority to those around her.

Yet Julian and his mother now live in a rundown neighborhood that ‘‘had been fashionable forty years ago.’’ She has sacrificed everything for her son and continues to support him even though he has graduated from college. As a consequence, she has to worry about spending...


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