Gabrielle Roy's novel The Tin Flute is an account of the poverty in which many Quebecois were living and longing to escape from. Its focus, though, is on the Lacasse family, and particularly Rose-Anna, about whom this essay will be concerned.

It is apparent from the beginning of the novel that the Lacasse family is poor, demonstrated by descriptions of their decrepit residence, clothes and all of their other belongings. The only sources of income to support their family of ten are the meager wages as a waitress from Florentine, the eldest daughter, and the husband Azarius' various stints of employment. Rose-Anna, mother and matriarch of the family, pulled her own weight, cooking, cleaning and mending for her family. Occasionally she made dresses and even did sewing for other families to earn a little extra, much needed, money.

Though their destitution had been stressed throughout the novel, the...