Hope in the face of hardship is a recurring theme in much of today's literature. As humans, it is in our DNA to survive, despite circumstances that make it difficult. The human being's innate ability to survive manifests itself in the way our body interprets danger or difficulty: it is in our blood to crawl and fight towards the sky regardless of the terrain we may start from, such as trees. In Betty Smith's novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, the use of trees allows the reader to interpret the growth of the main characters, Francie Nolan, as she comes of age. In turn, this allows the reader to understand the strength inherent in every human being, as well as the personal strength one must find within oneself to survive the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The tree referred to in the story is called the Tree of Heaven by some who live in Francie Nolan's neighborhood. Like Francie, this tree finds a way to grow wherever it is planted, despite the difficulty and impossibility of it all. The Tree of Heaven only grows in the poor part of Brooklyn where Francie lives. This fact highlights the concept that there is real grit in the poorest sections of society, where people live hand to mouth and cannot afford even the basic necessities. Furthermore, it allows the reader to understand that this is Francie Nolan's destiny by planting such a tree in the backyard of a girl struggling to become one. From the beginning, Francie Nolan is a fighter and a survivor. She was a sickly child, the most difficult child her mother had ever given birth to. Despite her neighbor's claims that Francie is ill and probably dying, her mother compares Francie to the Tree of Heaven itself, thus setting the stage for the rest of Francie's life. Francie's illness represents her social class, allowing the reader to understand that poorer people are not less strong than others, but rather are forced to be much stronger to survive their situation. An example of a contrasting scene in the novel is that of the rich little doll giving a beautiful doll to a girl named Mary. This motif of injustice is prevalent throughout the novel. For example, the novel points out in the story that there was something very sad about children being made to grow up earlier than expected. The sad thing is the injustice of the situation: the fact that the poor are often completely neglected, whether in schools, or in the workplace, or even in their own neighborhood, and are unable to escape the life in which they they find. For example, Francie's Aunt Sissy never went to school because her mother didn't realize that education in America was free until it was too late. Although in the 21st century there are more services and organizations that help immigrants understand their rights, not many people cared about it back then. What makes Francie different from the other characters in the novel is that she realizes that she is not a tree. When Francie doesn't like school, she finds a better one. When Francie wants to help her mother, she makes sure that she and Neely save their money. When Francie wants something, she goes out and gets it because, as the reader is shown earlier in the story, she is given the ability to believe in it. it is possible both through his imagination and intellect, and through his mother's teachings of pride. For example, her mother allows her to waste coffee if she wants, because even the poorest people have it.