1. How much of Corinthians’ inability to secure work commensurate with her education and social position is due to the social setting of the time? To her family upbringing? To her character? 

Corinthians trouble getting a job was caused by all three factors, her social position at the time, her upbringing, and her character. During the time period that the novel takes places, blacks were still very much discriminated against, furthermore where black women. Despite Corinthians being well-educated with a college degree she was unable to secure a job of higher standings, which is caused by the discrimination and prejudice against blacks and their low social standings in the world dominated by whites. Corinthians was surrounded by wealth and…show more content… Corinthian's relationship was destined to fail at the start when because of the secrecy she had about it, afraid of what her father or family would say or do about such a well-educated woman like her dating a yard worker. She was ashamed of dating someone poorer than she and with a job presumed for people in the lower classes, but she saw Porter. Corinthians' decision to stay in the relationship was a mistake, specifically exemplified by the scene where she was on holding onto the hood of Porter's car. Porter wanted to end their relationship because he did not want to be involved with someone as old as her who was afraid of her father. Porter told Corinthians this while at a drive-in, causing her to storm of, until she realized the shame she felt for not even being able to get someone better than a yardman. She ran back to his car crying and to stop him from driving away jumped into the hood of his car. This shows just how low and pathetic Corinthians was, and her unstable state of mind. Her decision to do that further proved unwise after Porter let her back into the car before returning to his home and sexually assaulting her. Corinthians thought trapped, believing that if she did not form a relationship with Porter then there might not be anyone else or anyone better that comes along, which caused her to make dangerous and volatile
