The novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, written by Betty Smith, not only gives a picture of what life was like in Brooklyn in the early 1900s, but it also represents a coming of age for its main character, Francie Nolan. I, personally feel that the time period depicted in the novel represents a more innocent age than ours today in 2005.
             In the early 1900s, children were forced to go work at a young age, usually twelve to fourteen years old to help pay the bills. Today, children don't go to work until they are sixteen and most are not required to help pay the rent. In the 1900s, store and factory owners took advantage of the children's innocence by paying them only half the wages of adults. A good example in the novel that demonstrates the theory of children being taken advantage of is the scheme at Cheap Charlie's. Charlie weasels money out of children by charging money to pick a number from the prize box, which holds no winning numbers. Today we have laws that require that every working person get paid minimum wage. Children are less naive when it comes to cheating because it's something they are used to hearing about and witnessing.
             In the novel, Francie and Neeley respect their parents. Even though Katie loves Neeley more than Francie, the little girl minds her mother and is always willing to help out. Also, Francie knows that her father is an alcoholic, yet she looks up to him more than any other character in the story. In this day and age, children are less respectful to adults, especially if they feel that they favor one sibling over another. Children have become lazy and more reluctant to help out with household chores. Back in the 1900s, each person in the family contributing was an essential part of survival.
             Another example of how things are different now is the value of education. Katie Nolan is so determined that her children become educated and will do anything to ensure that they...