The American Penny

The American penny in the velvet pouch is the most significant symbol of the novel, representing hope, family, legacy, and the American dream. Elsa refers to it in the first sentence of the novel in the prologue: “Hope is a coin I carry: an American penny, given to me by a man I came to love” (1). The reader later learns that Rose and Tony found the American penny on the day they left Italy to come to America for a better life. The penny - which also used to have wheat on it - represents their American dream. They give it to Elsa on her journey to California as a talisman, and she wears it around her neck. As the Depression wears on, and they face increasing financial challenges, the coin also comes to represent the hardships of capitalism. Elsa’s speech during the...