Haves versus Have Nots

The author stated in an interview that she was influenced greatly by the classic novel, Les Miserables. This is a tale of the French Revolution. In particular, it chronicles the desperate plight of the poor that gave rise to the revolution. In much the same way, Lu uses the plight of the poor in the Republic and their suffering as a backdrop for Day's emergence as a hero of the people.

The disparity between the wealthy and the poor is exampled in many sections of the book. First, there is the fact that Day's family must scrounge and scrimp to have even a decent meal. They don't have the common comforts of the wealthy, including clean water, adequate food, and access to medical care. Both June and Thomas, as well as Metias, enjoy a lavish lifestyle of parties, excessive food and drink, and...