What's in common between The Commitments and Rumble Fish?

In all the novels we have read up to now, the social class issue is included, although it might be not totally explicit, but the character’s stories always give us clues about how it is like. In this case, The Commitments as well as Rumble Fish show through their character`s life experiences, how social classes were represented. Topics like jobs, Education, and language are real examples that help us to develop that issue.

In The Commitments, the main character’s family background was supported by members who all of them had an occupation. The father worked, therefore earned some money to cover the main needs for their everyday living. The other characters; such as Declan Cuffe, Outspan, Derek; and Bernie; one of the chorists had also her own job in order to be able to make a living, although it did not seem to be good enough for her, In my opinion, she was not well paid. However, in Rumble Fish, since the mother had left both Rusty James and The Motorcycle Boy, and the father was an unemployed man, who devoted himself to be an alcoholic and spend most of his time being in the bar, drinking, being totally careless about their children, he was not able at all to provide what they need to grow up as they should.

In spite of the standard of living that the main character; Rusty James and his family had, the working class was represented by their surroundings. There was a school, which was the one where Rusty James and his friend Steve went to; and there were also a pub, where all the "buddies" met to throw pool. Both places were crucial for them. Rusty James hated school; he even was spelt from it because of his personality and actions, the opposite to his brother, who was spelt because he was too smart. Besides, all guys who lived near them, and went to the same school, were always involved in rumbles, as well as Rusty James. None of them was a positive leader.

The way the characters spoke in The Commitments, depicted a non satisfactory level of Education; they used lots of swear word. The vocabulary was very informal. Furthermore, the reading became a bit weird because many words were written the way they are spoken. Nevertheless, they knew what level they belonged to because they called themselves: “The hardest working band”.

All in all, both storied showed that it wasn’t that simple to handle making a living in the place and in the time where they took place. This was due not because of the cost of living but the working chances they had, and their interests and goals they wanted to achieve in life.