A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a semi-autobiographical work written by Betty Smith that is set in the early 1900s. Similar to Francie Nolan, the protagonist, Smith grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in the early twentieth century. Francie’s story follows Smith’s childhood closely and as she begins to grow up and change, so does the world around her.
World War I and the suffrage movement playing in the background of Francie Nolan’s coming-of-age novel made it historically significant. These events altered Francie’s world and impacted the novel in many ways. By including these historical events, Smith brought the reader into not only Francie’s childhood but commented on how the world was shifting during those times as well. The Nolan family, along with most of America, faced many hardships brought by war. Steady jobs were more difficult to find and food prices rose. Francie was also exposed to gender bias, sexual assault, and the harsh thoughts surrounding women’s voting because of the era she was in. The thought of women’s voting was brought up numerous times and Francie was subject to hear men discussing the anger and disbelief of this possibility.
Both of these historical events altered the future of the United States and by including them in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Smith contributed to understanding the culture of America during this time period. It also commented on how the U.S. handled these events and brought what they learned into the future.
Great American Novels 