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Grandma Kurnitz

After losing her two children in the past, grandmother Kurnitz becomes emotionally cold and this has far reaching implications on the relationship with her children and grand children. In particular, this makes her very tough and hard on the same. She raises her children in a harsh manner and seeks to teach them survival techniques. This had far reaching implications on their wellbeing and they develop a negative defense mechanism. In particular, it made Gert develop a breathing problem. She extends this indifference to her grandchildren and often charges Jay for every item that goes missing in her shop. She does this regardless of the fact that she sometimes takes the items.

Eddie Kurnitz

Eddie Kurnitz acquired some debt in the past that was used to clear the hospital bills of his late wife. Thus in the play, he takes his children to stay with their grandmother as he opts to look for a job in the South. Proceeds from this are expected to enable him to repay the debts (Neil 32). Since he believes that it is only by working hard that he can be able to raise enough resources to repay his debt, he does this until he gets himself sick. Meantime, his children have a hard time staying at their grandmother’s place because they do not have anywhere else to stay after the death of their mother. In the long run, he manages to return and takes them with him to the south.

Bella Kurnitz

By telling her mother that she would shower her children with a lot of love during one of the confrontations, Bella implies that before the death of her two siblings, grandma used to shower them with love and appreciation. It is for this reason that she asserts that she would not deny her children love for fear that this could make her loose them and experience heartbreak like the mother. In addition, this can be used to explain why she preferred confiding in Jay and Arty about her love life. Generally, she extends her affection to these children when she stands up for them when her mother initially refuses to house them. Furthermore, she showers them with gifts when their father comes to pick them. It can be speculated that she learnt about this gestures from her mother before the death of her siblings.

Louie Kurnitz

Finally, Louie Kurnitz’s involvement in crime and illegal activities can be argued to prepare him for the military work after he has exited the play. He assumed the position of a henchman for an illegal mob. However, his dealings put him in trouble with the mob and as a result, he is forced to leave town. Before then, he had engaged in other illegal activities in order to earn a living. This was done with the help of his gun that was suspected to be in the mysterious black bag. Notably, this experience hardens him and gives him a chance to learn vital skills. These were fundamental in enabling him to fight in the Guadalcanal battle. The play also portrays him as the toughest of Grandmas children who pursues illicit jobs in order to earn a living. This toughness is inevitably fundamental for survival in the military.

Work Cited

Simon, Neil. Lost in Yonkers. USA: Random House, 1991.