Who are the novel characters in world literature who are grateful for their poverty?
In world literature, characters who are grateful for their poverty are rare figures who reveal the deep contradictions of human existence, the search for meaning, and how material deprivation can establish a dialectical relationship with spiritual wealth. These characters experience poverty not only as a material deficiency, but also as an opportunity for liberation, self-awareness, and moral stance. From a philosophical perspective, these characters transform poverty into a virtue through Stoic acceptance, existential freedom, or religious resignation.
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky – Crime and Punishment: Sonya Marmeladova
Sonya Marmeladova in Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment is a character living in the extremes of poverty. Forced to engage in prostitution to support her family, Sonya exists in a world where material misery is a moral and spiritual test. However, Sonya’s gratitude for poverty is evident in her religious faith and her unwavering stance in love for humanity. Instead of seeing her poverty as a curse, Sonya sees it as giving her the ability to understand the suffering of others and to show compassion for them.
Philosophically, Sonya’s attitude is close to Kierkegaard’s concept of the “leap of faith.” Poverty is a realm of absurdity for Sonya, but she overcomes this absurdity through her devotion to God and her belief in the divine potential of the human soul. Sonya’s gratitude also bears an indirect reference to Nietzsche’s principle of “amor fati” (love of one’s fate): Poverty is her existential destiny, and accepting this destiny strengthens her freedom and moral autonomy. Sonya does not allow poverty to define her; on the contrary, she uses poverty as a mirror to discover her own spiritual depth.
- Charles Dickens – Great Expectations: Joe Gargery
Joe Gargery, in Charles Dickens’s novel Great Expectations, lives a modest life as a poor blacksmith. Despite his lack of material wealth, Joe is filled with inner purity, loyalty, and love. Despite Pip’s occasional arrogance and ingratitude towards him, Joe is grateful for his simple life and sees this simplicity as a virtue. His gratitude for poverty reflects a stance against the corruption that material wealth brings.
Philosophically, Joe’s poverty can be linked to Stoic wisdom. Epictetus’s teaching, “Do not worry about the things you cannot control, focus on the things you can control” reflects Joe’s philosophy of life. Instead of seeing his material deprivation as a loss, Joe values his own moral integrity and sincerity in human relationships as wealth. Furthermore, Joe’s gratitude also points to Rousseau’s concept of the “natural man”: Living a simple life, far from the chaos of modern society, Joe finds a kind of authentic existence in his poverty.
- Victor Hugo – Les Misérables: Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a character who experiences both the physical and spiritual dimensions of poverty. Sentenced to prison for stealing a loaf of bread, Valjean represents how poverty is intertwined with social injustice. However, Valjean’s gratitude for poverty becomes particularly evident after he is released from prison and meets the mercy of Bishop Myriel. Valjean realizes that material deprivation forces him to undergo a moral transformation, and in the process of this transformation, he sees his poverty as a blessing.
In philosophical terms, Valjean’s relationship with poverty can be explained by Hegel’s concept of “dialectics.” Poverty is a thesis for Valjean; this thesis transforms into a spiritual elevation (synthesis) through a moral struggle (antithesis). Valjean’s gratitude stems from his recognition that poverty has given him empathy, generosity, and an awareness of the common fate of humanity. In addition, Valjean’s poverty is similar to the struggle of the absurd hero mentioned in Camus’ “The Myth of Sisyphus”: Although poverty seems like a meaningless burden, Valjean creates his own meaning by carrying this burden.
- John Steinbeck – The Grapes of Wrath: Ma Joad
In John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath, Ma Joad is a mother figure who tries to keep her family together during the Great Depression. The Joad family faces the harshest face of poverty: unemployment, hunger, and immigration. However, instead of seeing this poverty as a defeat, Ma Joad finds meaning in her family’s struggle to maintain solidarity and human dignity. Her gratitude for her poverty lies in her will to survive and her commitment to the community.
Philosophically, Ma Joad’s relationship with poverty can be associated with Arendt’s concept of the “human condition.” Poverty is not just a material condition for Ma Joad, but also a testing ground for human relationships and collective solidarity. Her gratitude also points to Spinoza’s concept of the “conatus” (the effort to survive): despite the hardships of poverty, Ma Joad knows that life must go on, and in this effort she finds a kind of spiritual fulfillment.
- Orhan Pamuk – A Strangeness in My Mind: Mevlut Karataş
As an example from Turkish literature, Mevlut Karataş in Orhan Pamuk’s novel A Strangeness in My Mind continues his life as a poor boza seller in the changing face of Istanbul. Despite living a limited life in material terms, Mevlut is grateful for his simple happiness and moral integrity. His poverty can be read as a resistance against the consumer culture imposed by modernization and capitalism.
From a philosophical perspective, Mevlut’s gratitude for poverty can be associated with Heidegger’s concepts of “being” and “authenticity.” Mevlut lives an authentic life by remaining loyal to his existential roots against the alienating effects of the modern world. Poverty is not a loss for him, but a means of protecting his own self and values. Moreover, Mevlut’s gratitude also points to Levinas’s “ethics of the other”: even in his poverty, Mevlut feels responsible towards others, and this responsibility constitutes his spiritual wealth.